Chamical Learning Video
ACID RAIN
What is Acid Rain?
Acid rain is a result
of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals
are produced. The smoke that comes from a fire or the fumes that come out of a
car exhaust don't just contain the sooty grey particles that you can see - they
also contains lots of invisible gases that can be even more harmful to our
environment.
How acidic is acid
rain?
Acidity is measured
using a scale called the pH scale. This scale goes from 0 to 14. 0 is the most
acidic and 14 is the most alkaline (opposite of acidic). Something with a pH
value of 7, we call neutral, this means that it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Very strong acids will burn if they touch your skin
and can even destroy metals. Acid rain is much, much weaker than this, never
acidic enough to burn your skin.
Causes acid rain
Acid rain describes any form of precipitation with
high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It can also occur in the form of
snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material that settle to Earth.
erupting
volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but most acid rain
falls because of human activities. The biggest culprit is the burning of fossil
fuels by coal-burning power plants, factories, and automobiles.
When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxides (NO) are released into the atmosphere. These chemical gases
react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric
and nitric acid. Winds may spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere
and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the
surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil.
The Effects of Acid
Rain
Acid rain can be carried great distances in the
atmosphere, not just between countries but also from continent to continent.
The acid can also take the form of snow, mists and dry dusts. The rain
sometimes falls many miles from the source of pollution but wherever it falls
it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, buildings and water.
What can be done?
The only way to fight
acid rain is by curbing the release of the pollutants that cause it. This means
burning fewer fossil fuels. Many governments have tried to curb emissions by
cleaning up industry smokestacks and promoting alternative fuel sources. These
efforts have met with mixed results. But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many
years for its harmful effects to disappear.
Well, that’s all I can explain, thank you
For the video lets check this link :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J4UdU78VrGM
Why acid rain can happen? What caused it?
BalasHapusAcid rain is caused due to the formation of acid in the air is triggered from the meeting of acid-forming gases with water vapor. Usually it happens because of pollution / air contamination around the factory. Gases that are often the cause of acid rain include:
Hapus1. Carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2)
Both gases come from motor vehicle pollution, combustion products, etc., which when the two gases meet the water vapor (H2O) will form carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is classified as weak acid.
2. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur dioxide (SO2)
Both gas comes from heating sulfur / burning. Generally these gases are found in heavy industrial areas, which when they meet with water vapor (H2O) will form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) which is classified as strong acid.
The acid acid rain rate is calculated from the concentration of acid in the air, which is indirectly, meaning also calculated by the degree of pollution / air pollution in the air.
In normal status, in fact, CO2 in the air causes the rain we normally enjoy it is acidic. But the pH is not far below 7.
In contrast to areas with severe pollution / air contamination, the degree of acidity (pH) is much lower.
There is a close and direct relationship between corrosion and acid rain. Corrosion, is the process of weathering metal by substances belonging to oxidizer.
And acid, is a substance that can easily oxidize metals. So in the event of acid rain, there will certainly be corrosion in the metals affected by acid rain.
Why acid rain has a pH below 6?
BalasHapusAcid rain is defined as all kinds of rain with pH below 6. Rain is naturally acidic (pH slightly below 6) because carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air dissolved with rainwater has a form as a weak acid. This type of acid in rain is very beneficial because it helps dissolve the minerals in the soil needed by plants and animals.
HapusWhy air pollution can cause acid rain?
BalasHapusAcid rain is caused by sulfur (sulfur) which is an impurity in fossil fuels and nitrogen in the air that reacts with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These substances diffuse into the atmosphere and react with water to form sulfuric acid and soluble nitric acid so that it falls with rain water. Naturally acid rain can occur due to bursts from volcanoes and from biological processes in soil, marshes, and seas. However, the majority of acid rain is caused by human activities such as industry, power generation, motor vehicles and agricultural processing plants (especially ammonia). The gases produced by this process can travel up to hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere before they turn into acid and are deposited into the soil. Then, the increase of SO2 with NOx derived from industrial plant activities and others leads to acid rain.
HapusWhat is the impact of acid rain?
BalasHapusThe Impact of Acid Rain on Vegetation
HapusAcid rain is known to cause corrosion in the protective layer that covers the plant leaves, which affect the photosynthesis of the plant. Due to malnutrition, plants become susceptible to disease. This is one of the main reasons why forests in Germany are much perished. Another cause of the lack of nutrients of the trees may also be due to acid rain being absorbed by the soil. Harmful acids can damage the roots of trees.
Impact of Acid Rain on Soil
The soil contains abundant amounts of metals and minerals. When these metals come into contact with acid rain, dangerous chemical reactions can occur. These chemical reactions can cause soil erosion. Acid rain is also known to reduce soil fertility, causing the soil to become barren. Harmful acids can also reduce the number of microorganisms that live on the ground, microorganisms in the soil are important for decomposing plants and other dead and decaying creatures.
Impact of Acid Rain on Aquatic Flora and Fauna
Acid rain can directly affect aquatic life, as aquatic animals and plants directly consume sulfuric acid and nitric acid containing acid rain. These harmful acids can affect the fish's ability to absorb nutrients, salts, and oxygen. The aquatic animals take oxygen with their gills, but acid can cause the formation of mucus in their gills, thus inhibiting their ability to respiration. Acid rain also affects water pH levels thus reducing the absorption capacity of essential nutrients from aquatic life. This also disrupts the process of reproduction of fish that causes the eggs to become weak / brittle.
The Impact of Acid Rain on Human Health
Acid rain has no direct impact on humans. Acid rain looks and feels like an ordinary rain. However, acid rain has a negative impact on humans. Because acid rain makes the soil toxic, plants grown on the soil are also contaminated. These contaminated foods can disrupt our system and even cause death. Acid rain can also contaminate drinking water causing health problems. Pollutants that acid rain contains can interact with the atmosphere and produce gas that can cause lung problems.
The Impact of Acid Rain on Historic Monuments
Acid rain can damage stained glass windows, making the metal rusty, and damaging paint colors. Acid rain interacts with calcium and forms calcium bicarbonate, which can be easily cleaned. One of the drastic effects of acid rain can be seen in one of the seven wonders of the world, the Taj Mahal in India. Marble walls and pillars of this man-made monument are eroded by acid rain.
Is vehicle smoke a factor of acid rain?
BalasHapusBecause the smoke generated by this process can travel up to hundreds of kilometers in the atmosphere before it turns acidic and is deposited into the soil.
Hapus