Acid Rain

Learn about acid rain's causes, effects, and solutions! This worksheet covers science concepts vital for a healthy planet.

Problem and Solutions In the 1800s, people began to need more energy than ever before. They needed energy to run factories, cars, trains, and ships.Since the 1800s, the demand for energy has continued to rise. More energy is needed to supply electricity to homes, schools, businesses, and factories. The problem has always been finding a way to get all this energy.The solution wasfossil fuels. Fossil fuels include coal, oil, and natural gas. Burning fossil fuels releases energy. People can use this energy to make things work. For example, people can burn coal in a power plant. They can use the energy from the coal to produce electricity. Then they send the electricity through power lines to homes, schools, and factories.However, burning fossil fuels makes more than just energy. It also makes pollution. For example, burning coal creates a gas called sulfur dioxide. This gas rises in the air and mixes with water there. When this happens, it makes a chemical called sulfuric acid.When it rains, sulfuric acid falls to Earth as acid rain. Acid rain can pollute the land and water. As a result, plants and animals can lose their habitats and even die. There are several ways to reduce the pollution caused by burning coal. One way is to use coal that contains less sulfur. This helps to reduce acid rain. At the moment, the only solution to stop acid rain and global warming is to conserve energy. The less energy we use, the less fossil fuels we burn. The less fossil fuels we burn, the less carbon dioxide we put in the air.Conserving energy not only reduces pollution, it also conserves the supply of fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are nonrenewable. That means once fossil fuels are used, they cannot be used again. It takes millions of years to create more fossil fuels. Conserving fossil fuels makes them last longer and also keeps Earth cleaner. 1. Problems and Solutions Use the text above to match the problems and solutions. Problem: In the 1800s, people began to need more energy than ever. Solution: People started using fossil fuels. Problem: Burning fossil fuels causes pollution. Solution: Reduce pollution by using coal that contains less chemicals like sulfur. Problem: Acid rain causes pollution to land and water, causing plants and animals to lose their habitats or die. Solution: Conserving energy will preserve our environment better. 2. Acid rain forms when SO2or CO2reacts with water in the air water in the ocean water in lakes water in rivers 3. Looking at the following reactions, explain how the acid is formed in both situations. • When CO2 (gas) in the air reacts with water (liquid), carbonic acid is formed. CO2 (g)+H2O (l) produces H2CO3• When SO2(gas) in the air reacts with water(liquid), sulfurous acid is formed. SO2 (g)+H2O (l) produces H2SO3 4. Acid Rain can Damage Forests •Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, that trees need to be healthy.•Trees that are located in mountainous regions at higher elevations, such as spruce or fir trees, are at greater risk because they are exposed to acidic clouds and fog, which contain greater amounts of acid than rain or snow. 5. Acid Rain can Damage Structures and Objects • Acid rain can also have a damaging effect on many objects, including buildings, statues, monuments, and cars.• The chemicals found in acid rain can cause paint to peel and stone statues to begin to appear old and worn down, which reduces their value and beauty. 6. What are some of the possible solutions to acid rain?