Pollution of air by sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide
1. Sulphur dioxide (SO2)
Added to atmosphere by combustion of fossil fuels
- Factories
- Vehicles (oils, petrols)
SO2 + H20 -> Sulphuric acid
Sulphur + Water vapour
Sulphuric acid = Acid rain
Affects plants and animals
Plants 'burned' by acid rain
- Top of conifers dead
- Causes Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions to be leached from system, causes yellowing of leaves (chlorosis)
Acid rains form streams, lakes
- reduces pH (acidic)
- release of aluminium ions
- thickening of mucus that lines the gills of fish
- O2 from H2O reduced
- fish suffocates
2. Carbon monoxide (CO)
Produced when fossil fuels (coal, gas) burned with insufficient oxygen
Combines with haemoglobin in red blood cells
Forms molecule called Carbaminohaemoglobin
Blocks haemoglobin from carrying O2
Reduces O2 circulation
Toxic -> fatal
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