In oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta of Nigeria, continuous gas flaring releas… — JAMB UTME

In oil-producing regions such as the Niger Delta of Nigeria, continuous gas flaring releases atmospheric pollutants that trigger acid rain and severe land degradation. Arrange the following stages of acid precipitation and soil degradation in the correct sequential order from initial emission to final soil impact.

1High-temperature combustion during gas flaring releases precursor pollutants such as sulfur dioxide ( $SO_2$ ) and oxides of nitrogen ( $NO_x$ ) into the lower atmosphere.
2Atmospheric oxidation and photochemical reactions convert gaseous sulfur and nitrogen compounds into aerosolized sulfuric acid ( $H_2SO_4$ ) and nitric acid ( $HNO_3$ ).
3Rainfall absorbs dissolved acid aerosols, delivering highly acidic precipitation to terrestrial ecosystems and surface vegetation.
4Excess hydrogen ions ( $H^+$ ) displace essential base cations ( $Ca^{2+}$ , $Mg^{2+}$ ) in the soil, leading to nutrient leaching and the release of toxic soluble aluminum ( $Al^{3+}$ ).

Answer

The correct sequence begins with the atmospheric emission of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from gas flaring, followed by tropospheric oxidation into sulfuric and nitric acids, precipitation of acidic rainwater onto land, and culminates in nutrient cation leaching and aluminum toxicity in soil.

The process follows a logical environmental path: primary pollutant emission from gas flaring (

SO_2

and

NO_x

)

\rightarrow

tropospheric oxidation to form strong acids (

H_2SO_4

and

HNO_3

)

\rightarrow

atmospheric acid precipitation

\rightarrow

geochemical soil disruption via nutrient cation leaching (

Ca^{2+}

Mg^{2+}

) and toxic aluminum mobilization (

Al^{3+}

Step-by-Step Solution

Identify the primary source event of airborne pollutants.

Industrial flaring releases precursor gases (

SO_2

and

NO_x

) directly into the troposphere.

Pollutant emission must precede chemical transformation in the atmosphere.

Determine the atmospheric conversion process.

SO_2

and

NO_x

undergo oxidation in cloud droplets to form

H_2SO_4

and

HNO_3

Primary gas emissions react chemically with moisture and sunlight to produce acidic compounds.

Trace the pathway of acid deposition onto the earth's surface.

Acidified atmospheric moisture falls as acid rain onto canopy leaves and topsoil.

Precipitation serves as the physical vehicle transporting atmospheric acid aerosols down to terrestrial ecosystems.

Analyze the geochemical impact of acid rain on soil degradation.

H^+

ion buildup displaces basic nutrients (

Ca^{2+}

Mg^{2+}

), causing severe leaching and mobilizing toxic

Al^{3+}

Acid accumulation in topsoil causes cation exchange imbalances, degrading soil chemistry and plant health.

Key Concept

Atmospheric acid precipitation and geochemical soil degradation

Estimated Time:2m 0s

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