4.11) Gas Pollution

4.11 understand the biological consequences of pollution of air by sulphur dioxide and by carbon monoxide

1. Sulphur dioxide - SO2 gas

added to atmosphere when we have combustion of fossil fuels, such as coals and irons, from factories and vehicles

SO2 + H2O ---> Sulphuric acid ---> condenses into cloud and turn into acid rain in the form of precipitation

acid rain affects plant by....

- dry deposition -- "burned" the leaves of plants (by gases)

- wet deposition -- causes calcium and magnesium, to be leached out of the soil, this means plants won't be able to absorbs these minerals

if acid rain runs into steam....

- reduce pH (make them acid)

- release of aluminum acid --> causes thickening of the mucus and reduces the fish's ability to take oxygen from water (kills the fish)

2. Carbon monoxide - CO gas

added when fossil fuels such as coal or gas are burnt with insufficient oxygen (incomplete combustion)

combines with hemoglobin inside the red blood cell and forms a molecule called carbamina haemoglobin ---- blocks haemoglobin from carrying oxygen which reduces oxygen circulation (very difficult to release the gas from haemoglobin)

carbon monoxide is a toxic gas and can be fatal