Acid rain refers to all types of precipitation--rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog--that is acidic in nature. Acidic means that these forms of water have a pH lower than the 5.6 average of rainwater. Acid rain kills aquatic life, trees, crops and other vegetation, damages buildings and monuments, corrodes copper and lead piping, damages such man-made things as automobiles, reduces soil fertility and can cause toxic metals to leach into underground drinking water sources. .
Rain is naturally acidic because carbon dioxide, found normally in the earth's atmosphere, reacts with water to form carbonic acid. While "pure" rain's acidity is pH 5.6-5.7, actual pH readings vary from place to place depending upon the type and amount of other gases present in the air, such as sulphur oxide and nitrogen oxides. .
The term pH refers to the free hydrogen ions (electrically charged atoms) in water and is measured on a scale from 0 to 14. Seven is considered neutral and measurements below seven are acidic while those above it are basic or alkaline. Every point on the pH scale represents a tenfold increase over the previous number. Thus, pH 4 is 10 times more acidic than pH 5 and 100 times more so than pH 6. Similarly, pH 9 is 1O times more basic than pH 8 and 100 times more basic than pH 7. .
The acid in acid rain comes from two kinds of air pollutants-- sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These are emitted primarily from utility and smelter "smokestacks" and automobile, truck and bus exhausts, but they also come from burning wood. .
When these pollutants reach the atmosphere they combine with gaseous water in clouds and change to acids--sulphuric acid and nitric acid. Then, rain and snow wash these acids from the air. Acid rain affects lakes, streams, rivers, bays, ponds and other bodies of water by increasing their acidity until fish and other aquatic creatures can no longer live. As undecomposed organic leaf-litter increases, owing to the loss of bottom-dwelling bacteria, toxic metals such as aluminum, mercury and lead within the litter are released.
"What is Acid Rain?" ... In simple terms, acid rain is rain that is more acidic than normal. ... When this occurs, the runoff water adds the new acids to the acid rain, making a more acidic combination than the falling rain by itself. ... Acid rain has been a big problem for a long time. ... Acid Rain also has a direct affect on everyone. ...
Acids: Acid Rain What are the chemical causes of acid rain? How is acid rain formed? ... Does Bangkok suffer from acid rain? ... Rain having a pH of 5.6 or lower is considered acid rain. ... This was my essay on acid rain. ...
Technically, acid rain is rain that has a larger amount of acid in it than what is normal. ... This article gives an informational, in-depth look at acid rain--its causes and effects; and solutions to the acid rain problem. ... Therefore, now that we know what causes acid rain, here a look at how acid rain can hurt you and the world around you? ... Lakes are also damaged by acid rain. ... Acid rain can even kill fish before they are born. ...
The Acid Rain Issue Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. ... What is acid rain?... How is acid rain formed?... Effects of acid rain on the economyBecause of acid rain, many fish have died. ... Acid Rain 2000T...
Acid Rain and the Environment First off, what is acid rain? ... Acid rain looks and feels like regular rain. ... Taking a walk in acid rain, or even swimming in an acidic lake, will not harm us. ... Acid rain also affects the atmosphere. ... Acid rain also affects architecture. ...
Acid rain affects almost everything. ... When snow or rain comes the acid comes with it. ... Acid rain washes away nutrients in the soil. ... Agriculture is affected by acid rain in many ways. ... Snow and rain are highly acidic. ...
About 70% of acid rain comes from sulfur dioxide (SO2) which dissolves into water (H2O) to form sulfuric acid. ... Acid rain accelerates the rotting of building materials. ... Acid rain has two varieties of deposition: wet and dry. Wet deposition relates to acidic rain, fog and snow. ... When this happens, the wasted water adds to those acids to the acid rain, making the mixture more acidic than the falling rain alone. ...
Acid rain is the cause of all of this and much more. Acid rain is a widespread term used to describe all forms of acid precipitation rain, snow, hail, fog, etc. ... Rain (snow, fog, etc.) measured at a pH below 5.6 is considered acid rain. Acid rain is responsible for a widespread of environmental damage. ... There has already been plenty of damage done by acid rain. ...
Acid rain is rain that is polluted. ... Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are the gases that form the acid rain. ... Acid rain can also be harmful to humans because acid rain kills the crops and fish we eat, ruins homes, and the acid can release lead in the pipes and the lead could go into our drinking water. ... When acid rain falls from the sky it gets into the soil. ... It is the same thing with acid rain. ...
Acid rain is destroying the world=s lakes, air and ecosystem. ... Acid rain causes an ample deduction in the pH levels in the water. ... Acid rain causes traumatic effects in natural lakes and rivers. Acid rain causes air quality to deteriorate. ... Acid rain is becoming a major problem in our environment today. ...
