...Acid Rain – Save the Environment Acid rain, or any other form of precipitation with high nitric and sulfuric acid levels is when the precipitation has a lower pH than natural unpolluted rainwater, 5.5 (National Geographic). Acid rain is the result of combustion of fossil fuels which releases acid chemicals into the air (Wysession, Michael). It is a problem in the world since it effects natural and man-made environments as well as other factors in negative ways. The unpolluted water that rains down on us is always slightly acidic with a pH of around 5.6. This is because the rainwater from the clouds react with the CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) that is in the air. It is in the air due to that we convert the oxygen that we inhale into CO2 inside of our bodies, which we later exhale. This results in a solution called Carbonic Acid. (Wysession, Michael) Water | + | Carbon Dioxide | | Carbonic Acid | H20 | + | CO2 | | H2CO3 | Rain counts as acid rain when it goes below the unpolluted rain pH, 5.6. The acidity of acid rain can be as low as 2.7 on the pH scale depending on the ratio of chemical acids and unpolluted rainwater. However, the usual pH of acid rain is around 4.0 which is more than 10 times more acidic than unpolluted rainwater. (Wysession, Michael) Acid rain can be caused by natural sources such as volcanoes. However, the main cause of acid rain is when the acidic chemicals sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are released into the air by the combustion of...
Words: 2323 - Pages: 10
...Acid rain is defined according to the Dictionary as any form of precipitation whether it is snow, rain or sleet that has a high concentration of acid forming contaminates that come from coal smoke and chemical manufacturing that release sulfuric and nitric oxides. These such contaminates are released into the earth’s atmosphere and combine with water vapor. Acid rain is very harmful to the earth’s environment. In 1963 acid rain was discovered in the White Mountains of New Hampshire at the Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest. At this experimental site they found that the PH level was 3.7 from the rain water collected, that means that it was 80 times more of an acidic level than what would be found in normal water. Some of causes of acid rain are both man made and some that are natural in nature. The causes of acid rain that are manmade are caused by the burning of fossil fuels such as coal. These fossil fuels are burned to generate electricity that powers our homes. When these fossil fuels are the winds pick up the sulfuric and nitric oxide contaminates over large areas of land and fall back to the surface as acid rain. The way that acid rain is found naturally is through the eruption of volcanoes, fires and vegetation that is rotting through decomposition which produce sulfur dioxide and lighting that produces nitrogen dioxide. The effect that acid rain has on the forest life can be absolutely devastating by making trees and other plant life more likely to...
Words: 449 - Pages: 2
...Surviving Acid Rain By Rajwinder Munder ENG 1121 Professor Murphy May 5th, 2015 Outline Intro: Thesis Statement: With the increase of pollution of industry, acid rain has become a serious problem in the world today. Main Point: Acid rain has been a threat to the world’s ecosystems and its people, becoming one of the most dangerous forms of pollution today. Body: Articles: 5 year study of rainwater chemistry in a coastal megacity in south china takes place specifically in Shen Zhen and scientists discovered and found out that there was a strong anthropogenic pollution in the rain water. In the eBook Plankton culprit turn clear lakes to jelly it was revealed that acid rain may be causing lakes in eastern Canada to turn to jelly and trouble the fish life which made it hard to fishers to make a living. In the book excerpt “ Countdown Acid”, it was recorded that normal rain also holds very small amounts of acid particles in it, but none that can harm or damage anything. The story “ To build a fire” by Jack London from Literature for composition, London discusses that modern needs for man had turned humans into selfish people taking advantage of nature. The story “Butterflies” by Patricia Grace from Literature for Composition, Grace displays a message that we don’t really know what really happens to animals or nature until we experience it happen. The article “Now or Never” by Bill McKibben from Literature for Composition, McGibben emphasizes that global...
Words: 1688 - Pages: 7
...Acid Rain --------- Acid Rain is caused by pollution containing sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and ozone ( SOý, NOx, and Oý ) is released into the air. These chemicals are absorbed into clouds and results in Acid Presipitation ( Acid Rain, Acid Snow, Acid Hail, Acid Sleet ). When the chemicals aren't absorbed into clouds, they can drift for miles and fall to the ground, resulting in Acid Deposition, or dry deposition. When Acid Rain falls into water it is mixed in with the normal water and causes the pH of the entire body to be raised. Measurments on the pH ( potential Hydrogen ) scale, rise exponentialy, thus, a lake with a pH of 4 is ten times as acidic as a lake with a pH of 5, and a lake with a pH of 3 is 100 times as acidic, After many rain falls of Acid rain, the pH of a normal lake ( 5.8 ) to 4. Acid Rain has been known to reach the acidicy of pH 2, ( battery acid has a pH if 1 ) this is a drastic change, as normal rain is average pH 5.2. Acid Rain can dissolve limestone and chalk, and corrodes outdoor structures. Statues and monuments that are left unprotected can fall victim to the unpredjudiced destruction of acid rain. Acid Rain reacts to different types of soil and rocks in two ways. 1) Acid rain will dissolve alkaline rocks and soil, or will neutralize the alkalinity. 2) Acid rain will increase the acidicy of already acidic rocks and soil, such as granite...
Words: 395 - Pages: 2
... Grade 7 St. Albert The Great Acid Rain Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain is a type of acid deposition, which can appear in many forms. Wet deposition is rain, sleet, snow, or fog that has become more acidic than normal. Dry deposition is another form of acid deposition, and this is when gases and dust particles become acidic. Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air where they rise and mix with water, oxygen and other chemicals. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can travel great distances to combine with the moisture in the air. The way that acid rain damages plants is very subtle.Over time, the acidic water alters the pH of the soil where your plants are growing, binding and dissolving vital minerals and carrying them away. Acid rain also falls directly on aquatic habitats. Most lakes and streams have a pH between 6 and 8, although some lakes are naturally acidic even without the effects of acid rain. Acid rain primarily affects sensitive bodies of water, which are located in watersheds whose soils have a limited ability to neutralize acidic compounds. Acid rain can cause serious problems for many different animals and humans gases interact...
Words: 290 - Pages: 2
...| Acid Rain | .PrinceEcologyApril 3O, 2013 | | | Abstract Acid Rain is a mixture of wet deposition and dry deposition. Acid Rain is caused by a surplus of the chemicals sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide caused by air pollution. Air pollution comes from two main sources man made sources and natural sources. Man made sources come from combustion of coal used in power plants and exhaust pipes and natural sources come from volcanoes. They have many effects on the environment such as runoffs that lead chemicals into the streams and humans with respiratory illnesses that can worsen if the chemicals become too acidic.There are many ways to reduce acid rain such as cleaning exhaust pipes and using alternative energy sources. Acid rain measures a pH of about 5.3 Introduction: Acid rain is a mixture of dry and wet deposition from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The formation of acid rain result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes , and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxde and resulting from fossil fuel combustion. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, the wind blows these compounds across the enviroment. There...
Words: 2270 - Pages: 10
...ACID RAIN Acid rain is a mixture of deposited material, both wet and dry, coming from the atmosphere containing excessive amount of nitric acid and sulfuric acids. The rain is acidic in nature because of the presence of pollutants coming from the smoke from the cars and industries. Acid rain can occur in form of rain, snow, fog or dry material that settle to earth. The level of Acidity is determined by calculating the pH level in the water drops. Normal rainwater is slightly acidic. The pH level of normal rainwater ranges between 5.3 and 6.0. The normal rainwater is acidic because the carbon dioxide and water react with each other and form carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a very weak acid. When the pH level of rainwater falls below this range, it becomes acid rain (conserveegergyfuture.com, 2013). Acid rain affects plants directly and decreases the quality of soil and reduced fertility of the soil. The adverse effects of acid rain are severe where there is more concentration of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide (science.opposingviews, 2015). Acid rain has many negative effects, on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic environments. The primary reason for acid rains is air pollution. Acid rain is caused by large amount of pollutants it can be minimized by conserving energy and reducing pollution. I believe if we do not take preventive measures for acid rains future generation may face severe consequences (environment.nationalgeographic, 2015). Sulfur and Nitrogen are...
Words: 1679 - Pages: 7
...Introduction: Pollution is a worldwide problem. Acid rain is one of the most major pollutions on plants in Louisiana. Acid rain is a type of acid deposition, which comes from pollution in the air. Acid rain is made of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide compounds; when released into the atmosphere, water and oxygen react with the compounds creating acid rain (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2016). The purpose of this experiment is to test the effects of vinegar on kidney bean plants. In this experiment, the kidney bean plants are used as a model for all plants because they grow fast and are extremely sensitive to environmental changes. Also in this experiment, vinegar is the pollutant being used to represent acid rain; vinegar and acid rain have the same acidity concentration. When vinegar is added to kidney bean plants, the height of the plants will be shorter than average. Procedure: First, get four germinated kidney bean plants from the teacher. Then, label four of the same size Styrofoam cups; name cup one vinegar...
Words: 852 - Pages: 4
...Acid rain is a widespread problem found all over the world. The damaging effects of acid rain are one of the largest contributors to this form of pollution. Acid rain is any precipitation; rain, snow, or fog that contains acids such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Our society is becoming overwhelmed with great amounts of pollution from cars, factories, and garbage. The tremendous amounts of sulfur dioxide emitted into the air causes high levels of acid in the atmosphere. “Sulfur dioxide is one of the primary components of "acid rain" and it helps keep sunlight out of the atmosphere, which causes the Earth to cool” (Sulfur, 2013). Sulfur dioxide emission contributes to global warming. The acidity of a substances dissolved in water is commonly measured in terms of pH. When this sulphuric acid is absorbed into moisture in the air, poignant rainfalls can be damaging to the external environment. Natural sources, which emit sulfur dioxide, are volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation and plankton. Acid rain is destroying the world’s lakes, air and ecosystem. Acid rain affects every single aspect of the ecosystem. Acid rain is devastating to aquatic life, crops and forests, and human life. People exposed to sulfur dioxide in the air often have reduced lung function. The growth of forestlands also shows the effects of acid rain. Acidic rain damages trees (Godbold & Huttermann, 1994). Many trees show the disease slowly, but when disease and virus attacks they succumb...
Words: 1227 - Pages: 5
...Acid rain is the atmospheric issue I will be discussing in this writing. “Acid rain, also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, is precipitation possessing a pH of about 5.2 or below primarily produced from the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; the combination of NO and NO2) from human activities, mostly the combustion of fossil fuels” (Butler and Likens, 2012). I will be comparing and contrasting the indoor air pollutant tobacco smoke with acid rain. ”Tobacco smoke pollution, or secondhand smoke, comes from two places: smoke breathed out by the person who smokes, and smoke from the end of a burning cigarette” (Clean Air Council). “"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids” (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2007). Acid rain comes from emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the environment. There are many different contributors to these types of emissions, both man-made and natural sources. Examples include natural sources like volcanoes or decaying vegetation, or fossil fuel combustion which is a man-made source (U.S. environmental Protection Agency, (2007). As the Chapter 9 Reading states, nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxides in the atmosphere react with water to produce dilute solutions of sulfuric acid (H2SO4), nitric acid (HNO3), and nitrous acid (HNO2). The acids return to Earth’s...
Words: 979 - Pages: 4
...What do you think about acid rain? Introduction Acid rain refers to rain that is unusually acidic. This high acidity is a result of air pollution. The acidity of unpolluted rainwater ranges between a PH of 5 or 6. However, acid rain can have a PH of 3 or lower. Causes and effects of acid rain The acidity of rainwater increases due to the presence of Nitric Oxide (NO) and Sulphur Dioxide (SO2) in the air. The primary cause of acid rain is human activities. Humans burn fossil fuels by using coal-burning power stations, factories, and automobiles. Other causes are volcano eruptions and rotting vegetation. These gases react with Oxygen and water in the atmosphere to form Sulphuric acid and Nitric acid. Acid rain heavily impacts the ecology. Firstly, it causes the acidification of aquatic environments that lead to the death of marine species. These impacts affect consumers throughout the food chain especially non-aquatic species like birds that feed on fish. Secondly, it leads to corrosion and accelerates the decay of building materials like roofing sheets and paints. Irreplaceable statutes, sculptures and buildings that form part of our cultural heritage are corroded. Thirdly, acid rain poses a threat to public health. Reports concerning the rampant rise of conditions such as asthma, emphysema, lung inflammation and bronchitis are alarming. Lastly, it causes soil degradation. Acid rain dissolves nutrients and minerals from the soil leaving it infertile. It also releases...
Words: 353 - Pages: 2
...Acid rain is precipitation that has elevated levels of hydrogen ions, causing a low pH level. The pH level of pure water has a pH of 7, which is neutral. A pH range of 6.5 to 8 is considered to be safe. This means that organisms are at very little to no harm from their surroundings. Acid rain is considered to have a pH level of 5.6. Acid rain is formed when wet and dry deposition mixes with the atmosphere. This deposition contains high amounts of sulfuric and nitric acids. Acid rain can come from natural and man-made sources. The natural sources include volcanoes, sea spray, plankton, and decaying vegetation. The emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NO) into the atmosphere causes the acid precipitation. Sulfur dioxide...
Words: 418 - Pages: 2
...Acid Rain Rain is one of the most essential ingredients for human and animal life. The water provided by rain allows all life on Earth to survive. Although rain is naturally acidic, it is being increasingly acidified by pollution from homes, factories, power stations and cars. The term used to describe this problem is “acid rain”. Acid rain hasn’t just occurred in the last twenty to thirty years. In fact a chemist named Robert Smith found rainfall in Manchester, U.K., to be very acidic. He suggested a link between acid rain and SO2 given off when coal was burnt by local factories. This was over 100 years ago. Acid rain is caused when pollutants from cars, homes, factories and power stations mix with atmospheric moisture. These pollutants may be carried in clouds for long distances before falling, which mean that forests and lakes far away from factories may be damaged by acid rain. Two of the major ingredients of acid rain are the chemicals sulphur dioxide [SO2] and nitrogen oxides [NOx]. When large quantities of these two particular chemicals come in contact with the atmosphere, they team up with moisture [H2O] to produce strong acids called sulphuric and nitric acid. These two acids which are formed in the atmosphere are very strong pollutants. Some air pollution as a matter of fact comes from natural sources, but most is human made. The burning of oil and coal by plants and factories, homes and cars, is the main source of chemicals that cause acid rain...
Words: 1224 - Pages: 5
...Acid rain- or acid deposition is rain that is made acidic (between pH 0 and pH 7) by chemical pollutants in the atmosphere, such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that it becomes harmful to the environment. Acid rain is formed when the above mentioned chemicals react with water and oxygen to form solutions of nitric and sulphuric acid. Acid rain has two forms: dry deposition and wet deposition. The pollutants, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, enter the atmosphere as dry deposition. Dry deposition is the deposition of pollutants which come from the atmosphere and are absorbed by plants. When they react with the water and oxygen in the rain clouds, they become wet deposition. These acidic solutions may be spread across the atmosphere...
Words: 1024 - Pages: 5
...harmful to animals and their habits. Air pollution causes asthma, skin cancer and acid rain Firstly, air pollution contributes to asthma. A lot of people suffered from this disease. Asthma is chronic inflammatory disease. Some air pollutants lead to asthma where chemicals in our bodies make the muscles constrict and effects the skin pores for airways. It makes the airways very small and can cause coughing, wheezing and general breathing problems. Asthma is one of the major diseases in the world. Secondly, skin cancer occurs due to the ultra violet radiation from the sun. The pollutant air is known as chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) do major damaged to our environment. The CFC combines with the earth’s upper atmosphere of ozone layer. The ozone layer protects the earth from the ultra violet radiation of the sun. The CFC’s gas molecules transfer and destroy the ozone layer and cause the skin cancer. So, skin cancer is another disease contributed to air pollution. Thirdly, air pollution also causes acid rain on the environment. Factories, power plants and automobiles release contaminating particles into the atmosphere which is fall to the earth in the form of rain that called acid rain. Acid rain can destroy plants. Flowers and trees. The rain polluted air flows into lakes from which animal drink. Animals and marine life can be destroyed by the acid rain. Buildings are also affected by the acid rain. Acid rain can be harmful and creates...
Words: 396 - Pages: 2
