The Problem of Acid Rain

When fossil fuels are burned to create electricity pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. They then mix with oxygen and water in the air to form acid rain. These chemicals can travel long distances in the rain before being deposited. (Epa.gov)

     “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 has not been shown to be harmful to human health, but some of the particles, which can be formed from sulfate, and nitrate ions can affect respiration. They can be transported long distances by winds and inhaled deep into people's lungs. Fine particles can also penetrate indoors. Many scientific studies have identified a relationship between elevated levels of fine particles and increased illness and premature death from heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.

Acid rain has a large concentration of hydrogen ions mainly coming from the burning of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It could kill living organisms, damage buildings, and monuments.

Acid rains as a phenomenon has been identified during the 19th century in Europe, and was attributed the smokes rising from chimneys factories coinciding with the overtime increase of rain acidification especially in Scandinavia. There is a growing interest in acid rains and its destructive effects in the light of the development of global industry especially in the industrialized countries, which consume huge quantities of fuel and release increasing quantities of gases such as sulphur dioxide, hydrogen, and nitrogen oxides which produce sulfur and nitrogenouns acids upon the interactions with oxygen and water vapour. Acids produced remain in the form of fine mist until dissolved in rainfall once occurs and then precipitates as

Acid rain is a form of rain that contains nitric and sulfuric acid, with a pH of less than 7.0. Acid rain can weaken the

Such as rain, fog, snow, hail, and some types of dust. When acid rain and dry acidic particles fall, nitric and sulfuric acid that creates acidic can land on statues, buildings which can damage buildings there surfaces. They are many consequences of damaged materials they need to be replaced or repaired, increase maintenance cost, and detailing in stone damage. In 1852 a chemist named Robert Angus Smith discovered that during the Industrial Revolution acid rain and the atmospheric pollution increased

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.

Acid rain has affected the economical problem on work of arts. According to James H. Gibson of Colorado State Univerity in Ft. Collins, acid rain has caused one of the most expensive and well-known economic problems in the world. “According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the EPA, they have estimated an annual cost of $5 billon dollars and increasing due to fixing of stuctures damaged by acid deposition” (Petersopn, 1985, p.154). Acid rain has been around in the world for many of years, how can we solve the issue of acid rain in our environment and help the companies from spending so much money on preventing acid rain from destroying their artwork?

To begin with according to the United States Enviromental Protection Agency, Acid rain, or acid deposition, is 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. Acid rain has a pH of 5.0 or less. Most acid deposition ranges from pH 4.3 to 5.0. While a small portion of the Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide that cause acid rain is from natural sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels.  The major sources of Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere are: Burning of fossil fuels to generate electricity.  Two thirds of Sulfur dioxide and one fourth of Nitrogen oxide in the atmosphere come from electric power generators, vehicles and heavy equipment, manufacturing, oil refineries and other industries. Since winds can blow Sulfur dioxide and Nitrogen oxide over long distances and across borders, it makes the problem greater

Acid rain refers to precipitation that is more acidic (having lower pH levels) than average. In more detail, acid rain is a type of precipitation that has mixtures of wet and dry materials coming from the atmosphere, which includes more nitric and sulphuric acids (Conserve Energy Future: Acid Rain). Acid rain can also be written as “Acid Deposition” because the acid rain could come down as other precipitation, for instance, snow. This became a worldwide problem due to the effects it can have on land, aquatic ecosystems, buildings, vegetation and more. The acidity of the acid rain will distort the pH levels and break down the elements to harm whatever this type of precipitation touches.

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.

From the precise moment, we first polluted the world, from burning fossil fuels to urbanization many people were uneducated about the threatening long-term effects that came along with these massive innovations. One of the many serious threats is acid rain a lot of people don’t notice the effects of this worldwide dilemma. When we burn fossil fuels nitrous gases are released into the atmosphere and these gases react with water and oxygen, therefore, making it rain filled with many sulfuric acids and chemicals.(National Geographic,2017) Acid rain destroys many habitats, ecosystems, wear down buildings and statues, and can contaminate many of the streams of water in Canada. Thousands of trees will we wiped out due to acid rain, therefore, damaging our huge exports of lumber. Our sources of water will now be contaminated and would not be accessible or safe to drink or use. Our water would have to go through many filters before it will be safe to drink. Now we realize the detrimental effects that come with acid rain from the dwindling surplus of trees to the harmful chemicals polluting our ecosystem it's time to stand and take action to this worldwide crisis.

Acid rain refers to precipitation that is more acidic (having lower pH levels) than average. In more detail, acid rain is a type of precipitation that has mixtures of wet and dry materials coming from the atmosphere, which includes more nitric and sulfuric acids (Conserve Energy Future: Acid Rain). Acid rain can also be written as “Acid Deposition” because the acid rain could come down as other precipitation, for instance, snow. This became a worldwide problem due to the effects it can have on land, aquatic ecosystems, buildings, vegetation and more. The acidity of the acid rain will distort the pH levels and break down elements to harm whatever this type of precipitation touches.

Acid rain majorly affects any environment and it is sometimes impossible to restore the environment back to the condition it was before the introduction of acid rain. Limestone is one way to shorten the healing process for acidic lakes, but while used extensively in Norway and Sweden it is a very expensive and tedious process and only considered a short-term remedy, but does allow the environment to return to health much quicker. There is no cure-all for the damages caused by acid rain. Time and a restoration of a healthy environment with a normal pH level is the only solution known to modern day technology at this time.