No 2 acts to produce acid rain in two steps, a formation of no 2 and n 2 o 5 by absorption of uvradiation from the sun. The article also provides access to a nationwide network of acid rain monitoring stations which are updated weekly. Acid rain in minnesota minnesota pollution control. The pollutants used in this example are the two pollutants that cause acid rain. Eventually, these oxides react with oxygen and water to give nitric acid and sulfuric acid. Soils are thin and unable to buffer acid rain as well as areas with deeper soils.
By re ducing the emis sion of the precu rsors of aci d rai n and t o s ome exten t by liming, th e problem of acidif ication. People burn fossil fuels such as coal and oil to make electricity. Acid rain can damage the crops that grow in the soil. Natural and industrial sources can release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, leading them to combine chemically with oxygen and water to form their respective acidic molecules. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that. Acid rain powerpoint presentation linkedin slideshare.
Solution the only costeffective solution to the problem, according to many people, is to reduce emissions at their point of origin. Review paper acid rain and its ecological consequences p y. Acid rain facts and information national geographic. Electricity heats and lights buildings and runs appliances such as televisions and video. Introduction to acid rain normal rain water is always slightly acidic because c02 present in atmosphere, get dissolved in it form carbonic acid. The napap report analyzes the results of the acid rain program through 2002. Range of rainwater ph in different parts of india measured at bapmon station modified from datar et al. During the early 1980s and 90s, dramatic visions of acid precipitation corroding. Scrubbers an examination of a solution that will reduce the toxins that cause acid rain. Acid rain also damages man made mate rials and struc tures.
Acid rain acid rain was discovered in the 19th century by robert angus smith, a pharmacist from manchester england, who measured high levels of acidity in rain falling over industrial regions of england and contrasted them to the much lower levels he observed in less polluted areas near the coast. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. The problem of acid rain the term acid rain was first used by a british chemist, robert angus smith, about 120 years ago in a book about pollution from coal burning in british cities. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. Since a search of the literature revealed that there is a large volume of information about acid rain, the essay is divided into two parts. Acid rain is any form of rain that is more acidic than normal with a ph lower then 5. The chemist robert angus smith, was the first to report about the dangers of acid rain in 1872 in his book air and rain. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to earth. Acid rain is caused by nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide produced by both natural processes and the combustion of fossil fuels. When atmospheric pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur react with rainwater and come down with the rain, then this results in acid rain. The acid rain releases these metals and they stunt the growth of trees and other plants and also that of mosses, algae, nitrogenfixing bacteria and fungi needed for forest growth. What is interesting about acid rain is that acid rain can have varying degrees of strength or intensity, due to the fact that acid rain that is acidic but has a higher ph level would not be as strong and damaging to the environment as acid rain that has an extremely low ph level, and is therefore more strongly acidic and can cause a great deal.
Try this acid rain demonstration to see for yourself how acid rain might affect a region. Hand out student data sheets and go over concepts listed under the lab background section. Acid rain is caused by the mixing of moisture in the atmosphere with sulfur dioxide and nitrous oxides, forming sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the precipitation that falls to the earth. Acids are more concentrated in this form than in rainwith a ph as low as 3nearing the. Acid rain the exploring nature educational resource. Sulphuric acid dissolved in rain drops falls on the earth surface as acid rains. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, i. Effects of transported pollutants princeton university. He suggested that pollutants in the air were dissol ving in rainwater making it acidic, causing damage to buildings and historic monuments.
These pollutants also contribute to the formation of. What are the major sources of manmade, acid rain causing pollution. Use at least two types of plants, two types of soils, your local rain water, and rain that has been acidified to a ph of 3 to 3. Water contains atmospheric gases as well as carbon dioxide, and when the carbon. Smith in 1872 from his studies of air in manchester, england. Read this article to learn about the causes, effects and control measures of acid rain. Acid rain is any type of precipitation with acidic components that falls to the ground from the atmosphere. Question sheet on acid rain students can use a text book or the internet to get the answers to the questions, or it could be based on a powerpoint for them to fill in as you go along. For instance, swedish precipitation network revealed that the phenomenon of acid rain was regional in scale and that acid deposited in sweden was coming largely from european sources. Acid deposition penetrates deeply into the fabric of an ecosystem, changing the chemistry of the soil and streams and narrowingsometimes to nothing. Farmers need a lot of soil because they plant crops. Once in the atmosphere, the pollutants combine with moisture to form acid rain. References use your body for transportation a ph test monitors outdoor air vehicle testing, inspections, and enforcement maintains inventories of air pollution sources makes rules to limit emissions to the air from cars and other. The acid rain is collected in a cloud and will be released when it rains.
Acid rain definition and meaning collins english dictionary. There is no doubt about the damage which acid rain has caused, but what remains unclear are the precise causes of acid rain and the most efficacious means of reducing its environmental. Acid rain can damage plants, animals, soil, water, building materials, and people. Sowa, svetlana zusina, acid rain and its effect on the environment slideshare uses cookies to improve functionality and performance, and to provide you with relevant advertising. In addition, it offers students several ways that they too can help reduce acid rain, including asking. Acid deposition delivers acids and acidifying compounds to the earths surface, which then move through soil, vegetation, and surface waters and, in turn, set off a. Acid rain describes any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. Acid rain is rain that is more acidic than it should be. Acid rain also corrodes limestone buildings, walkways and statues. The article gives a good overview of the basics of acid deposition. Make enough copies of the student data sheet for each student. Acid rain effects worksheet record in the table below your predictions what you think will happen to each item. Sulfur dioxide, an acid rain precursor, can react directly with limestone in the presence of water to form. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very.
Acid rain is one of the major environmental threats since 19th century. But acid deposition continues to affect ecological systems and is likely contributing to forest degradation, fish kills, and tainted water quality. Acid rain is caused by the omission of harmful particles into the atmosphere, including sulfur dioxide so 2 and nitrogen oxide no 2. Acid rain fall occur which acidic oxide like co 2, so 2, p 2 o 5, etc. Soil is the basis of wealth upon which all land based life depends. For example, soils can neutralize the acids, exchange nutrients and trace metals for components of the acids, andor hold sulfuric acid. Also included is the answer sheet for students to check their answers against. Any precipitation or dust particle that contains abnormal levels of sulfur dioxide. Acid rain in environmental engineering free pdf download. The various effects that it has on humans, the environment, and buildings and objects. Acid rain is rain polluted by acid that has been released into the atmosphere from. Pollutants from a source of pollution drift up to the atmosphere.
Acid rain is precipitation that contains high levels of nitric or sulfuric acid. Acid rain acid deposition consists of delivery of acid substances or precursors, principally sulfur and nitrogen oxides, acids, and salts, from the atmosphere to the earth surface schwartz 1989 wet deposition rain dry deposition adsorption, adhesion cloud and fog droplets. On top of the disastrous consequences on our health, the different components of our environment can be affected by acid rains. It is formed when sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides, as gases or fine particles in the atmosphere, combine with water vapour and precipitate as sulphuric acid or nitric acid in rain, snow, or fog.
Acid rain can have harmful effects on plants, marine animals, humans, infrastructure and more. Make enough copies of the acid rain lab procedure so that each lab table has enough for the student teams. Petzold department of geography, university of maryland, college park, md 20742, usa summary the solution to the problem of acid rain is perhaps one of the main environmental and political issues facing the peoples of the industrialized nations, and their neighbours today. This web site is designed to broadly educate students about acid rain, including. Gao acid rain emissions trends and effects in the eastern united. The widespread occurrence of acid rain was recognized only in 1980. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and infrastructure through the process of wet. Scientists have discovered that burning fossil fuels creates acid rain through air pollution. In the northern hemisphere, the most common source of these chemicals in the atmosphere is air pollution from industry, generation of electricity and automobiles. Thk first part will consider a definition of the problem, sources of acid rain, and the effects on living organisms, ecosystems, and humans.
The most notable effects occur on marble and limestone, which are common building materials found in many historic structures, monuments, and gravestones. In addition, weather conditions contribute to air pollution and cause acid rain to spread vast distances. Acid rain effects on humanmade structures britannica. Snow and fog can also contain nitric and sulfuric acid, and the dangerous effects are the same whether the acid is falling to the earth by rain or snow, or dancing in the air via fog. Through the emission and deposition of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen. Acid rain is rain that contains nitric and sulfuric acid. Acid rain is rain with an unusually low ph level, meaning it is extremely acidic. What are the chemical equations for the formation of acid.
Acid deposition, commonly known as acid rain, occurs when emissions from the. Acid rain, more accurately known as acid deposition, begins with the burning of fossil fuels such as coal, gas or oil for energy. It is almost worse in water than on land because the fish that are in the water need the water to breathe. Acid rain is a complicated problem affecting soil and water chemis try, as well as the life cycles of plants and animals on land and in the water. I would use an atomizer spray bottle to water various plant types planted into both soil types with both regular and acid rain to test number 1 above. Causes of acid rain the causes of acid rain are sulfur and nitrogen particles which get mixed with the wet components of rain. Definition of acid rain precipitation that has a ph of less than that of natural rainwater which is about 5. When nitrogen oxides nox and sulfur dioxide no2 are released into the atmosphere, they react with water and create sulfuric and nitric acids. Sources of acid rain acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. Acid rain, then, makes the trees much weaker to other forms of damage, such as being blown down, or breaking under the weight of snow. Problems with acid rain pdf the problem of acid rain. Acid fog or clouds are a problem at high elevations, too. Pure water has a ph of 7, normal rainfall has a ph of a bit less than 7, but acid rain can have a ph of about 5. Next, record your observations a detailed description of what actually happened to each item after one day in each solution and after one week in each solution.