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Name _________________

Period # ____

Date ____________

Acid Rain in the U.S.


Air Pollution Virtual Lab
Objectives: Define acid rain and describe its causes. Test the pH of rainwater samples and plot the
information on a map of the United States. Describe the relationship between the occurrences of acid rain
and sulfur dioxide emissions in the United States.
Procedure:
1. Access the following link:
http://www.glencoe.com/sites/common_assets/science/virtual_labs/CT11/CT11.html
2. Read the information on the left of the screen to answer the Prelab questions below.
3. Now that you know more about acid rain, you are ready to collect some data! Click a Test Tube Holder to
select a set of test tubes to test. Click a Test Tube to test the pH of the water sample.
4. Enter the state's pH value into the map. To do this, click a state, then click the color in the legend that
corresponds to the state's pH value. If you do not have a printer, record the pH values and SO2 values for each
state on the attached map. (Use the color key on the right side of the map to identify the pH of states that have
already been tested. There is no data for Alaska or Hawaii.)
5. Repeat steps 1-3 for all the states' rainwater samples then use your data to answer questions #7-12 below.
Prelab Questions:
1. What is acid rain?
Acid rain is rain after chemical reactions from air pollutions make it more acidic.

2. How is it formed?
The chemicals in the air pollution that cause acid rain are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide.
These reaction times can range from hours to days.

3. How does acid rain affect the environment?


Can damage or destroy aquatic life, forests, crops and buildings.
It is bad for plant life and soil causing trees to slowly die.
4. Besides the effect on the environment, does acid rain has any other harmful effects?
Acid rain can get into water supplies and get people sick.
It may have links to some diseases in humans too.
5. What two air pollutants are associated with the formation of acid rain?
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide

6. What are the sources of these air pollutants?


Factory emissions and fossil fuels.
Data Analysis:
7. According to your pH test result, where in the U.S. is acid rain most severe?
The west and mid west

8. Sulfur dioxide is the main air pollutant associated with acid rain.
9. Which state in the U.S. release the most sulfur dioxide annually?
Nevada
Conclusion:
10. Based on your analysis, is there a relationship between a state's sulfur dioxide emissions and the
average pH of its rain water?
Yes it is higher
11. How might you explain the fact that Vermont and New Hampshire, states with very low sulfur dioxide
emission, experience acid levels that are among the most severe in the country?
They are small states and near other states that have very high emissions

12. Discuss at least three possible ways to reduce acid rain.


Use different form of transportation from cars
Dont allow polluted water to be evaporated

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