How does SO₂ cause damage?
Reveal answer
Burning sulfur fuels → SO₂ → acid rain → lakes/trees harmed.
Key words: acid rain
5(d) HUMAN INFLUENCES ON THE ENVIRONMENT · RECALL
5.12 Air pollution by sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide
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Why is CO poisonous?
Reveal answer
Binds haemoglobin → less oxygen carried.
Key words: haemoglobin
Source of CO?
Reveal answer
Incomplete combustion.
Key words: incomplete
Indicator organisms for SO₂?
Reveal answer
Lichens.
Key words: lichens
Why is CO hard to detect?
Reveal answer
Colourless and odourless.
Key words: odourless
How can SO₂ be reduced?
Reveal answer
Desulfurise fuel / scrubbers / renewables.
Key words: scrubbers
What is meant by the term acid rain?
Reveal answer
Rain with a lower pH than normal, caused by dissolved pollutants such as sulfur dioxide.
Key words: acid rain
What is meant by the term incomplete combustion?
Reveal answer
Burning in insufficient oxygen, producing carbon monoxide or soot.
Key words: incomplete combustion
Two air pollutants compared: for Main source, give the sulfur dioxide and the carbon monoxide.
Reveal answer
Sulfur dioxide: Burning fossil fuels containing sulfur. Carbon monoxide: Incomplete combustion of fuels.
Key words: Main source
Two air pollutants compared: for How it causes harm, give the sulfur dioxide and the carbon monoxide.
Reveal answer
Sulfur dioxide: Forms acid rain; irritates airways. Carbon monoxide: Binds to haemoglobin.
Key words: How it causes harm
Two air pollutants compared: for Biological effect, give the sulfur dioxide and the carbon monoxide.
Reveal answer
Sulfur dioxide: Lower pH kills aquatic organisms and damages trees. Carbon monoxide: Less oxygen carried to tissues.
Key words: Biological effect
Two air pollutants compared: for Reduction method, give the sulfur dioxide and the carbon monoxide.
Reveal answer
Sulfur dioxide: Desulfurisation and scrubbers. Carbon monoxide: Catalytic converters, ventilation, detectors.
Key words: Reduction method
True or false, and why? “Carbon monoxide causes acid rain.”
Reveal answer
False. Acid rain is caused mainly by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. CO harms by binding to haemoglobin.
True or false, and why? “Acid rain only affects the area near the factory.”
Reveal answer
False. Pollutants are carried by wind and may fall as acid rain far away.
True or false, and why? “Carbon monoxide damages lungs by burning them.”
Reveal answer
False. It is absorbed into blood and reduces oxygen transport.