Acid Rain

            "What is Acid Rain?" You hear about it all the time in the news and it is very important to.
             In simple terms, acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. All.
             objects in nature have a certain level of acidity but acid rain has too much acid in it. Acid.
             rain is a complicated problem, caused by air pollution. Acid rain's spread and damage.
             involves weather, chemistry, soil, and the life cycles of plants and animals on the land and.
             from acid rain in the water. Acidity is measured using a pH scale, with the number 7 being.
             neutral. Therefore, a body with a pH value of less than 7 is acidic. On the other hand, a.
             value greater than 7 is basic. The pH of 5.6 has been used as the baseline in identifying.
             acid rain. Any precipitation that has a pH value of less than 5.6 is considered to be acid.
             precipitation. Readings of pH 2.4--as acidic as vinegar--were recorded during storms in.
             New England. During one particularly acid summer storm, rain falling on a lime-green.
             automobile leached away the yellow in the green paint, leaving blue raindrop shaped spots.
             on the car.
             Scientists have found that pollution in the air from the burning of fossil fuels is the.
             main cause of acid rain. The major chemicals in air that help to create acid rain are sulfur.
             dioxide, known as (SO2), and nitrogen oxides, known as (NOx). Acid rain is formed high.
             in the clouds where sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react with water, oxygen, and.
             oxidants. This lethal mixture creates a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
             Sunlight often increases the speed at which the reaction occur. Rainwater, snow, fog, and.
             other forms of precipitation containing these new solutions of sulfuric and nitric acids fall.
             to earth as acid rain. Acid rain does not make up all of the acidity that falls back to earth.
             from pollutants. Only half of the acidity in the air falls back to earth through dry.
             deposition as gases and dry particles. The wind blows and then these acidic grains are.