Acid Rain

Objective:  A short paper (4-6 pages, double spaced) on the causes, consequences, and possible cures for acid rain.
Description:  Acid rain is a serious problem.  The main causes are the presence of two strong acids, H2SO4 and HNO3 , in the atmosphere due to pollution.  . You should get your information from at least three different sources and include a reference list at the end of the paper.  You will find the internet helpful for this assignment; include the address of any web sites used in your references.  Remember that using text unchanged from another source without quoting the source is plagiarism and is considered cheating.  Your paper should address all of the following items:

1. What is acid rain?  Isn’t normal rainfall acidic?  What are the sources of pollution that lead to acid rain?  Briefly describe the chemistry involved.
2. Acid rain causes damage to both living organisms and materials.  Discuss some of the main ways acid rain is damaging.  Are all materials affected equally?  Are some organisms more prone to damage than others?
3. Does acid rain occur to the same extent all over the world?  Do the regions that have the most pollution suffer the most damage?  What other factors determine the extent of acid rain in a region?
4. Does the technology exist to prevent (or significantly diminish) future acid rain?  If so, give some examples. 
5. Can anything be done to reverse the damage that has already occurred? Can the environment be “cleaned up”?
6. New York and other northeastern states filed lawsuits against industries in midwestern states that pollute the atmosphere.  What is the basis for these lawsuits?  What impact do you think lawsuits will have on diminishing acid rain?
7. What has the federal government done to address the problem of acid rain?  What role should the government play in dealing with this problem? In your opinion, is the problem of preventing acid rain best dealt with at the local, national, or global level?
8. Who do you think should pay for cleanup and prevention efforts?  Is there anything individuals can do to help with this problem?