acid rain

Acid rain

What is acid rain? "Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air" acid rain is caused by chemical reaction. This chemical reactions begins with sulfur and nitrogen. These two substances when mixed form acidic pollutants. Both of these substances are carried by the wind and dissolve easily in water.

The acidic rain and its strength is measured by the ph scale. This scale allows us how strong is the acid that we are talking about.The scale is from 1-14. Very strong acids can burn your skin and cause many serious problems, while there are those that we wouldnt even realize are acidic. Rain will always be a little acidic because of the mixing that happens happens with oxides in the air. The "unpolluted" air would be about 5, 6 on the ph scale, but if the air isn't as clean, then it can raise to 4.



Acidic rain is caused by changes in the environment. Even if there is some rain that is just "naturally" full of acids, everyday human activities make it worse. Rain usually reacts to alkaline chemicals, and non acidic ones that are found in the air. The reactions of these "neutralize" acids. But if it becomes too acidic there can be a problem with neutralizing the acids. This can damage trees, rivers, lakes, and animals. Another cause of acidic rain is burnt cars, trucks and even fossil files. When they realize nitrogen oxide and sulfur, these chemicals cause acid rain.


Acid rain affects us because all over the world, there are forests, and clear lakes which have no loner living plants. Acid rain can also affect the snow, trees, buildings, water, and soil. These are all the things we need and use in our everyday lives. However, acid rain affects our health as well. It affects our health because when we breathe we inhale the pollution and its goes in our lungs. Based on research and these concerns you can even get skin rashes and infections because of the unwanted chemical reactions. If the food that you eat has been in contact with acid rain can become as harmful for your health when you eat it.



"Acid Rain - Solutions
Progress in Controlling Emissions:

Some progress has already been made in slowing the emission of sulfur oxides. These decreases are the result of the 1975 Clean Air Act and and the 1990 Amendments.

In the Northeast there has been a steady decrease in the sulfate content of the air and rain. The rate of acidifying lakes has also slowed as well. To actually reverse the trend, the amount of acid rain will have to be reduced much further. Some scientist think that at least of 50 % reduction is required.

Solutions - Use Low Sulfur Coal:

The amount of sulfur oxides emitted by a power plant can be reduced by burning coal with a very low percentage of sulfur present. Low sulfur coal (0-1% sulfur) is surface mined in the Western states of Wyoming and Montana. Transportation costs are much higher.

High sulfur coal (2-4% sulfur) is currently mined in the Midwestern states of Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky. If a complete switch to low sulfur coal is made, many coal miners will lose jobs."-http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/197acidrainsoln.html




There are many ways that we can reduce acid rain. Acidic deposition. It means "ranging from societal changes to individual action"-United states protecion agency.

One of the ways is to clean up some stacks, and to use alternative energy sources. Understanding the causes and effects will also help because it will raise awareness. To restore the damaged part of the environment, and to take action is probably the most important and best thing to do, since we, humans and our activities are one of the causes of acid rain in the first place.