4.11 understand the biological consequences of pollution of air by sulphur dioxide and by carbon monoxide

 Sulphur dioxide and carbon monoxide are produced in the burning of fossil fuels in factories.

Sulphur dioxide is produced when compounds containing sulphur are burnt (formed from the combustion

of sulphur containing compounds)

Sulphur dioxide dissolves in rain (reacting with water vapour) to form acid rain which damages buildings

(limestone and marble), lowers the pH of lakes, soil and trees. Particles of sulphur dioxide that is inhaled

can also be harmful to humans.

-        The lowered pH of lakes, causes damage to the organisms that live in them, especially those with vulnerable/exposed skin such as frogs

-        The acid rain strips the nutrients off of leaves and corrodes the wax that protects the leaf

-        The acidic pH of the soil causes it to be less fertile (too acidic for plants to grow)

-        Corrodes buildings and rock made from limestone, marble and chalk <-- (do not mention if asked about biological consequences)

Carbon monoxide is formed through the incomplete combustion of hydrocarbon fuels e.g. coal, fossil

fuels. It is a greenhouse gas and causes the greenhouse effect to increase and results in global warming.

Carbon monoxide is toxic/ poisonous, it binds irreversibly to haemoglobin and reduces the red blood cells

capacity to carry oxygen which can lead to suffocation/ results in death/ is fatal.