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The formation of ammonium sulphate in water droplets exposed to gaseous sulphur dioxide and ammonia
Author(s) -
Van Den Heuvel A. P.,
Mason B. J.
Publication year - 1963
Publication title -
quarterly journal of the royal meteorological society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.744
H-Index - 143
eISSN - 1477-870X
pISSN - 0035-9009
DOI - 10.1002/qj.49708938008
Subject(s) - ammonia , ammonium , sulfur dioxide , chemistry , environmental chemistry , ammonium sulfate , sulfur , condensation , absorption (acoustics) , atmosphere (unit) , inorganic chemistry , materials science , meteorology , organic chemistry , physics , composite material
The rate of formation of ammonium sulphate in water drops exposed to air containing known concentrations of gaseous sulphur dioxide and ammonia has been measured. The mass of sulphate formed is proportional to the product of the surface area of the drops and the time of exposure. Extrapolation of the laboratory results to the atmosphere suggests that the large condensation nuclei 0·2 μ < r < 1 μ of ammonium sulphate, found by Junge to be abundant in industrially polluted air, are formed by the absorption of SO 2 and NH 3 in cloud and fog droplets.