Acid Rain: Nitrogen Oxides & Sulfur Dioxide Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Why is sulfur dioxide produced when some hydrocarbon fuels are burned?

The fuels contain sulfur impurities, which burn (react with oxygen) to form sulfur dioxide.

What is formed when sulfur dioxide dissolves in rain water?

Acid rain.

Give two problems caused by acid rain.

It makes lakes and rivers acidic, killing fish and plants; it damages/erodes buildings and statues made of limestone and corrodes metals.

Why are oxides of nitrogen formed inside engines?

The high temperature makes nitrogen and oxygen from the air react together.

True or false? The nitrogen that forms oxides of nitrogen in an engine comes from the fuel.

False. It comes from the nitrogen in the air drawn into the engine.

Give two harmful effects of the oxides of nitrogen released from engines.

They dissolve in water in clouds to cause acid rain, and at ground level they cause photochemical smog, which leads to breathing problems.