Students can discuss the natural acidity of rain due to carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This can also lead to discussions of the effect of the accelerating greenhouse effect on rain pH. 4. Oxidation and reduction chemistry. Strong acids and weak acids. The resolution of this provides a deep understanding of the properties of strong and weak acids.
Students can calculate the equilibrium pH of rain due to carbon dioxide in the air.
They can do this for the present level of about 350 ppm and for a pre industrial value of 280 ppm. They can also determine the pH of rain if the carbon dioxide doubles in the next 30-60 years. There are a number of more advanced questions which can be developed in this area using spreadsheets to handle the arithmetic. Social issues related to science and technology. This project will virtually insure that some attention is paid to the causes of acid rain and the possible solutions.