Re: HSC 2012 Chemistry Marathon
Evaluate the impact of industrial sources of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides on the environment, making use of appropriate chemical equations. (7)
These are what I wrote a couple of days ago:
• Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen are highly acidic and toxic.
• These oxides cause environmental issues such as acid rain and the release of toxic fumes and the levels of these oxides have been rising since the industrial revolution.
• Sulphur oxides: Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) and Sulphur Trioxide (SO3)
• Nitrogen Oxides: General formula of NXOY
• Sulphur oxides react with water to form corrosive acids:
H2O(l) + SO2(g) --> H2SO3 (aq) [Sulphurous Acid]
H2O(l) + SO3(g) --> H2SO4 (aq) [Sulphuric Acid]
• Sulphuric acid is a strong acid with highly corrosive properties and can quickly damage and even destroy flora and fauna in the environment.
• Sulphuric acid can also corrode important monuments and stone buildings and statues, especially if they readily react with acids such as limestone.
• Many Nitrogen Oxides are also highly corrosive, especially Nitric Acid have a potential to pose extreme harm to humans due to its corrosive nature.
• Some Nitrogen oxides form acids in solution and some are toxic gases:
H2O(l) + NO2 (g) --> HNO3(aq)+HNO2(aq) [Nitric Acid and Nitrous Acid]
Dinitrogen Tetroxide: N2O4(g) is a highly toxic gas as it is a powerful oxidiser and inhaling this gas in significant quantities can be fatal.
I think this is a pretty solid answer.
Next question:
Clearly indicate the similarities and differences between the model of acids described by Humphrey Davy and the model developed by Bronsted and Lowry.