Name ___THOMAS FOSTER______________

Date ________12/9/14____
Period # _1st___

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?
Any type of precipitation that is more acidic than normal.

2. How is it formed?
It is formed primarily from the air pollution of burning fossil fuels,
or when sulfuric dioxide and nitrogen oxide get into the atmosphere.

3. How does acid rain affect the environment?

It damages and destroys aquatic life, forests, crops, and other animals.
4. Besides the effect on the environment, does acid rain has any other harmful effects?
It can destroy buildings and can also severely impact the human health system.

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?

Burning fossil fuels, power plants, volcanoes, cars, and more.

Data Analysis:
7. According to your pH test result, where in the U.S. is acid rain most severe?
The Northeastern United States.

8. Sulfur dioxide is the main air pollutant associated with acid rain.
Yes

9. Which state in the U.S. release the most sulfur dioxide annually?
Ohio

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 . As emissions rise pH increases.

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?
The polluted air moves towards them because of wind

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

Use filters on smokestacks, use alternative energy, limit the excessive use of point source polluntants