Unit 3 Air Pollution

Name ______Unit 3 Air Pollution Acid Rain Webquest

Go to the following website: http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/index.html

Read through the different sections (on the left side) and answer the following questions

What is Acid Rain?

1. Define acid rain. Rain that has been made acidic by air pollutants

2. Explain wet and dry deposition. Wet- sleet, rain, snow or fog Dry- gases and dust particles that become acidic

3. How is acidic deposition transported? By wind and weather patterns

4. Explain acidity. pH less than 7 What Causes Acid Rain? 5. Summarize the processes involved in forming acid rain. Chemicals react with water and oxygen in the air and become acidic

6. What are the main causes of acid rain? Burning of fossil fuels, especially coal

7. What will happen in the environment if neutralizing reactions no longer occur? If aquatic ecosystems become too acidic, buffers will no longer react to neutralize

Why is Acid Rain Harmful? 8. What health problems are associated with acid rain? Respiratory diseases 9. Will swimming in an acidic lake be harmful to people? No

10. Summarize how acid rain can be harmful to forests. Acid rain dissolves nutrients and causes Aluminum to leach out of the soil and into the water

11. What does acid rain do to aluminum? How does this affect a lake ecosystem? Pulls it out of the soil and enters the water system. It can build up in the gills of fish and other aquatic organisms

What is Being Done? 12. What is the purpose of the EPA’s Acid Rain Program? Sets caps and emission standards

13. List and explain the three ways to reduce acid rain. Reduce air pollution, “wash” coal, scrubbers in factories, cleaner cars

What Can You Do? 14. What are the suggestions listed to conserve energy? Turn off lights and other electronic devices Invest in Energy Star (energy efficient products) Limit AC and Heat Adjust thermostat settings when out for the day ACROSS 3. A solution is ______when it has a pH higher than 7.0. 5. When power plants burn ______, they release sulfur dioxide and POSSIBLE ANSWERS: nitrogen oxides into the air. 7. Wet ______refers to acidic ACID ECOSYSTEM rain, fog, and snow. ALLOWANCE GEOTHERMAL 9. ______deposition can be wet or BASIC NUTRIENTS dry. CARPOOL SCRUBBER 11. ______energy comes from the COAL SUN heat stored in the earth. CONSERVATION WATER 13. A ______removes sulfur dioxide DEPOSITION from the gases leaving the smokestack of a power plant.

DOWN 1. The government gives an ______to a power plant, letting it release a set amount of sulfur dioxide. 2. One way that people can help prevent acid rain is by joining a ______, in which individuals share rides to their destination and reduce the number of cars polluting the air. 4. By turning off the lights when you leave a room, you are practicing energy ______. 6. An ______consists of plants and animals and the environment in which they live. 8. Acid rain dissolves and washes away important ______found in the soil that are necessary for the healthy growth of plants. 10. Hydroelectricity is produced from the energy of running ______. 12. Solar energy is energy that comes from the ___.

Use the information from the website to help answer the clues and fill in the crossword puzzle