ACID RAIN
Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation
with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the
atmosphere in wet or dry forms.
This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.
Typical acid rain has a pH of 4.0, acids has pH of around 1-2.
It is result of reaction of sulphur dioxide or nitrogen oxide gases with water in
atmosphere.
Gases produced during:
a. Burning of coal in power plants to pd electricity
b. Burning of coal in vehicles
c. Refineries
d. Forest fires
Forest fires increase the concentration of acids in the atmosphere.
Forest fires increase the concentration of acids in the atmosphere.
Livestock farming
Intensive livestock farming produces ammonia from the decomposition of organic
matter
Natural sources:
d. Volcanic eruptions: release pollutants like nitric acid, hydrochloric acid, and
sulfuric acid.
e. Lightning
The pH scale measures how acidic an object is. Objects that are not very acidic are called
basic. The scale has values ranging from zero (the most acidic) to 14 (the most basic). As
you can see from the pH scale above, pure water has a pH value of 7. This value is
considered neutral—neither acidic or basic. Normal, clean rain has a pH value of between
5.0 and 5.5, which is slightly acidic. However, when rain combines with sulfur dioxide or
nitrogen oxides—produced from power plants and automobiles—the rain becomes much
more acidic. Typical acid rain has a pH value of 4.0. A decrease in pH values from 5.0 to 4.0
means that the acidity is 10 times greater.
There are many high-tech devices that are used to measure pH in laboratories. One
easy way that you can measure pH is with a strip of litmus paper. When you touch a
strip of litmus paper to something, the paper changes color depending on whether
the substance is acidic or basic. If the paper turns red, the substance is acidic, and if
it turns blue, the substance is basic.
It has been shown that acid rain has detrimental effects
--Acid Rain Harms Forests
Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as magnesium and
calcium, that trees need to be healthy.
Acid rain also causes aluminum to be released into the soil, which makes it difficult
for trees to take up water.
Trees that are located in mountainous regions at higher elevations, such as spruce
or fir trees, are at greater risk because they are exposed to acidic clouds and fog,
which contain greater amounts of acid than rain or snow. The acidic clouds and fog
strip important nutrients from their leaves and needles. This loss of nutrients
makes it easier for infections, insects, and cold weather to damage trees and
forests.
Acid Rain Damages Lakes and Streams
Without pollution or acid rain, most lakes and streams would have a pH level near
6.5. Acid rain, however, has caused many lakes and streams in the northeast United
States and certain other places to have much lower pH levels.
In addition, aluminum that is released into the soil eventually ends up in lakes and
streams.
this increase in acidity and aluminum levels can be deadly to aquatic wildlife,
including phytoplankton, mayflies, rainbow trout, small mouth bass, frogs, spotted
salamanders, crayfish, and other creatures that are part of the food web.
Destroys insects and reduces soil quality
Acid Rain Damages Buildings and Objects
Acid rain can also have a damaging effect on many objects, including buildings,
statues, monuments, and cars.
The chemicals found in acid rain can cause paint to peel and stone statues to begin to
appear old and worn down, which reduces their value and beauty—Taj Mahal
-causes paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges, and weathering of
stone buildings and sculptures,
Acid rain harms human health
----as well as impacts on human health- increases the amount of particulate matte in
the air which affects heart and lung health- asthma, bronchitis, permanent lung
damage.
WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT IT
Conserve Energy
Since energy production creates large amounts of the pollutants that cause acid rain,
one important step you can take is to conserve energy. You can do this in a number of
ways:
Turn off lights, computers, televisions, video games, and other electrical equipment
when you're not using them.
Encourage your parents to buy equipment that uses less electricity, including lights, air
conditioners, heaters, refrigerators, and washing machines. Such equipment might have
the Energy Star label.
Try to limit the use of air conditioning.
