Acid Rain

Acid precipitation is a wide term that incorporates any type of precipitation with acidic parts, for example, sulfuric or nitric acid that tumble to the ground from the climate in wet or dry structures. This can incorporate into rain, snow, haze, hail or even clean that is acidic. Acid rain as numerous natural impacts, yet none is more prominent than its effect on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other amphibian situations.

     “North Americans have been smelting ore and burning fossil fuels for generations. In the past, the gases went up ordinary chimneys or small smoke stacks, to descend upon near by areas and pollute them,” states author, Robert Collins. Almost everyone knows what acid rain is and has a vague idea of the consequences that exist as a cause of it. Most people however do not realize the severity of acid rain. The essay “Acid Rain: Scourge from the Skies” by Robert Collins was very effective in showing the true severity of acid rain. By using excellent developmental devices, Robert Collins was able to write an effective essay that is appealing to today’s society, as well as

Acid rain is a type of rain mixed with acid that affects crops, buildings, and statues. Acid rain is made when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide combine with each other in the air. There are many different causes of acid rain; including the burning of fossil fuels, emittance from vehicles, volcanic eruptions, and decaying vegetation. Acid rain can be measured by using the pH scale. The pH scale is used to measure different levels of acidity and alkaline. The pH scale has a numerical scale of zero to fourteen, with seven being neutral. The pH of rain in Illinois is typically 4.7-4.8, making it acidic. In regards to the US, acid rain is most commonly found in the northeastern region. Acid rain can decay and erode buildings and statues, causing

Acid rain has been a problem dating back to the 1800s, but it was not until the 1960s that attention was finally brought to the forefront of this problem. Acid rain is not just rain, it is also snow, fog, hail, and mist. Rain itself contains acid because it mixes with naturally occurring oxides in the air. According to Fact Sheet, unpolluted rain would have a pH level of between 5 and 6. When the air becomes polluted with nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide the acidity can increase to a pH level of 4 (p. 1). Rain with a pH below 5.6 is called acid rain (Hill & McCreary, p. 208). This low level causes many problems for our environment. Power plants, factories, car exhaust fumes and even natural pollutants all contribute to

Many of the acidic deposits that fall from earth from to the atmosphere can cause the pH of the water to change, making them have a higher acidity than desired. This process was named acid rain from the Scottish chemist, Robert Angus Smith who discovered this in the 19th century (Reed, 2014). Acid rain is commonly known as air pollution today causing many detrimental effects on the environment (Funk & Wagnalls, 2016). Based on the pH of the concentrated rainfall, acid precipitation begins to take place. Acid precipitation begins in the atmosphere since this is where most of the pollutants are being combined to create many of the acids that aid in the acidity of acid rain. Most of the pollutants come from the oxides, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrous oxides (N2O), which later on aid in the acidity of the rain fall (Funk & Wagnalls, 2016). By fully understanding the history and formation of acid rain through inorganic chemistry, scientists can extrapolate the data to help find solutions to decrease the pH concentrations of acid rain.

enough acid in it, it may be made more acidic by the application of alum, sulfur,

Another consequence of using Acid rain is rain that contains high levels of nitric and sulphuric acids, which are the result of burning fossil fuels because when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air as byproducts of burning fossil fuels, the SO2 and NO react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulphuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground. This rain can be harmful to plant and animal life. For example The harmful effects of acid rain can be seen in marine life, such as streams, lakes, and marshes where it can be harmful to fish and other wildlife, because as the rain flows through the soil, the acidic rainwater can separate aluminium from soil clay particles and then causes it to flow into streams and lakes, And as more acid is introduced to the ecosystem, the more aluminium is released. Some types of plants and animals are able to tolerate acidic waters and moderate amounts of aluminium. Others, however, are acid-sensitive and will die as the pH declines. Dead or dying trees are a common sight in areas affected by acid rain. Acid rain removes aluminium from the soil which may be harmful to plants as well as animals. Acid rain also removes minerals and nutrients from the soil that trees need to grow, making it unsuitable for plant growth. Pure water has a pH of 7 while normal rainwater has a pH of 5.6. Acid rain, however, has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4; this is due to the gases

Acid rain has been a problem to Earth's ecosystems since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution period; when machines and industry began spewing out acidic pollution into our atmosphere. However, only in the past few decades have the problem of acidic rain fallout been known and studied. The acid rain problem received top billing with environmentalist and politicians throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. Acid rain has a harmful effect to our environment.

Beginning with this phenomenons name, acid rain, it has always had an distinguishable pull of attraction towards me. Commencing from the first time I heard about it in the years of my elementary, I have always had a keen interest in this oddly named rain. One would think any type of rain is beneficial to all natural living forms, but with my discovery of acid rain it seems not. Along with my envisionment of what acid rain is, it has always been a grey area in my mind and thoughts. Is the rain green? Does it have a smell? Does it sting? I have never had the chance to deeply indulge myself into further studies and research on this such topic. For this reason I believe that this report is an ideal occasion to begin and further my knowledge on acid rain. I will attempt to answer the following questions, “what is acid rain?”, “how does acid rain affect plants?” , “ how does it affect animals?”, “ does acid rain influence people's lives and health?”, and finally “are there any ways to prevent acid rain?”. To conclude, I believe by answering these question, not only will I be more knowledgeable and thoughtful of the earth and the rain cycle but I will finally feed the hunger I have had for knowing what acid rain truly is.

Acid rain is a global phenomenon that has many causes and even more different consequences as a result. The main cause of acid rain is the burning of fossil fuels and motor vehicles. The result of these actions get released into the atmosphere. All of these fuels that are getting burnt and running motor vehicles are releasing multiple acids into the atmosphere that gets collected by the clouds and stores them in their moisture. As a consequence, when it rains, the acids that have been collected by the clouds then transfer to the water and get released with the rain. Hence the term “acid rain”. The acids released into the atmosphere can also be collected by snow and hail. These acid pollutants in the air can be carried by wind current extremely easily, therefore this phenomenon can affect many places far away from the initial site.

Acidification of the surface of the water is a major problem in areas of the northeastern United States, in eastern Canada, and in southern Scandinavia, it also occurs in other parts of the world as well (Baker & Schofield, 1982). The acidification on the surface of water causes many fish populations to decline in soft-water aquatic environments, that are exposed to acid precipitation (Neville & Campell, 1988). This acidification of the surface water is caused by acid rain. Acid rain or otherwise known as acid deposition is a term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that comes down from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. These forms include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that can be acidic.

The term ‘acid rain’ refers to the atmospheric deposition of acidic constituents that impact the earth as rain, snow, particulates, gases, and vapor. The bulk of the acidity in rain comes from the reaction of sulfur dioxide (SO2) with hydrogen peroxide in clouds, a reaction that produces sulfuric acid. Even though sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide occur in the air naturally, burning fossil fuels adds more of these chemicals into to the air. When these pollutants are released into the air, they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form acid rain. Acid rain then falls to the Earth where it can damage plants, animals, soil, water, and building materials.

In describing acid precipitation pollutant chosen it is more commonly known as acid rain representing a form of secondary pollution (EB,2013). Nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released into the atmosphere reacting to water and other components forming acids (EB, 2013). Acid rain refers to two different processes that enable the acid suspended in the atmosphere to deposit on the Earth’s surface water dries (EB, 2013). Wet acid decomposition fades to the Earth’s surface when it rains snows or fogs (EB, 2013). The dry acid deposition occurs when the acid particles drop to the Earth’s surface as gas or a particulate form (EB, 2013). Acid decompositions and precipitation aren’t constrained by international boundaries (EB, 2013). Many nations use fossil fuel do not have the legislation in place of air pollution limiting meaning that can contributes to the acid deposition and precipitation both locally and in other countries (EB, 2013). The Nations that haven’t’ taken any. Consideration of limiting air pollution resulting acid deposition that will affect the global environment (EB, 2013). Once the acid compounds are released they are deposited into the soil and bodies of water increasing the acidity resources (EB,2013). Acid water is not potable for humans (EB, 2013). Acid precipitation is both point and non-point pollution. The point pollutions of is from factories and the non-point the acid rain makes water more acidic and release aluminum can be toxic to fish (Acosta,

Acid rain is a growing issue in today’s society for a number of reasons. Acid rain’s effects mainly impact the air and environment. Aquatic life is significantly impacted by acid rain and can result in loss of aquatic life. Soil that produce is grown in can also be acidified by acid rain and this can cause human health to be strongly affected if they eat anything grown in acidic soil. Acid rain can also affect famous monuments by slowly corroding the surface of the monument. Harmful gases can also be produced by acid rain. The growing levels of harmful gases will result in a growing level in acidic rainfall, if this occurs it can cause a very significant impact on flora, fauna and treasured landmarks being corroded away. It’s surely an issue that needs to be addressed or it could lead to immense changes to our world and our society.

In modern day society, acid rain has affected vegetations, waters, rocks and animals in various types of environments. Acid rain is very common in forest types of environments and lakes due to the wind. The wind carries toxins of sulfur dioxide into the clouds where the clouds create either rain or smog. When the ground/soil is affected by sulfur dioxide, it becomes rotted and the acid rain kills all types of vegetation. Animals living in this environment loose some sort of food and become poisoned. For example, fish that live in the waters of lakes are harmed by acid rain where the pH levels become abnormal. When the forests are destroyed, the living creatures and animals will not be able to find any source of food; the wild grass is one source of