Introduction – Part 2 (ACID RAIN)

 Did you know where do Sulfur dioxide and Carbon dioxide came from?
I’ll give you an example on that,

Plants intake some sulfur to grow that they obtain from potassium sulfate
that already present in the soil.

The sulfate is consumed through the roots as the sulfur atoms bond with carbon atoms in
the leaf protein. And after many years when these plants eventually die and turn into coal
these sulfur atoms and carbon atoms remain intact. And when we burn the fossils of these
dead plants, the sulfur and carbon atoms mix with the oxygen in the air and are released
into the atmosphere as SULFUR DIOXIDE and CARBON DIOXIDE.
And when the sunlight hits these gases a chemical reaction takes place where the sulfur
dioxide reacts with more oxygen to form sulfur trioxide that eventually mixes with the
rainwater to create SULFURIC ACID. (H2SO4)

Similarly in our city, when our

vehicles release nitrogen oxide into
the atmosphere they reacts with more
oxygen and mixes with rain water to
form NITRIC ACID.
Effects:
Now we know how the rain turns acidic, so let’s us now learn it’s effect on our environment.

Did you know Acid rain has many ecological effects?

Primarily on lakes, rivers and other aquatic environments where it can be harmful to fish and
other wildfire.

As it flows through through the soil, acidic rain water can leach ALUMINUM FROM SOIL
CLAY particles and then flow into streams and lakes.

The more acid that is introduced to the ecosystem, the more aluminum is released.

Some types
of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters and moderate amounts of aluminum.
Others, however, are acid-sensitive and will be lost as the pH declines.