oxygen to form SO 3 . In turn, SO 3 reacts with rainwater to produce sulfuric acid,
in the following reaction:
More Fascinating Facts
Many nonmetal oxides,
e.g., SO 3 , N 2 O 2 , CO 2 ,
produce acids when
dissolved in water. The
dilution (addition of water)
of concentrated sulfuric
acid, H 2 SO 4 , is a highly
exothermic reaction.SO 3 (g) + H 2 O(l) → H 2 SO 4 (aq)Other oxides that also contribute to the production of acid rain are the nitrogen
oxides, which combine with water to form nitric acid.
Acid rain is harmful to buildings and other structures because it reacts with
metals and is corrosive. It’s also harmful for organisms that live in ponds and
lakes; most natural ponds and lakes have a pH of about 7, which is neutral, and a
drop in pH has many negative effects on the inhabitants of these bodies of water.
In fact, the fall of acid rain has significantly reduced the number of fish and
other aquatic organisms in many polluted areas of the world.
Carbon Monoxide
The last air pollutant that you’ll need to know about for this test is carbon
monoxide, CO. Carbon monoxide is found in car exhaust and cigarette smoke
and can be dangerous for humans because it binds irreversibly to hemoglobin,
the biomolecule that is responsible for transporting oxygen around the body
through the bloodstream.
Okay, we’re done with environmental chemistry—now read through the
laboratory chapter, and you’ll be all set to take the three practice exams at the
back of the book.