Acid Rain 10
Acid rain is exactly what it suggests- rain that is acidic. The definition of "acid rain" is rain with a pH of below 5.6. Rain becomes acidic because of gases that dissolve in the rain. Approximately 70% of acid rain is a result of dissolved sulfur dioxide (SO2) which forms Sulfuric Acid. The remaining 30% or so comes from various Nitrogen Oxides (mostly NO2 and NO3 which has collectedly adopted the mane Nox). There is also a small percentage of hydrochloric acid that makes up hydrochloric acid as well. The equation is as follows:
Sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air:
In the air, the nitrogen ion becomes nitric or nitrous acid:
NO2(g) + H2O(l) = HNO3(aq) + ...
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sulfur dioxide emission comes from volcanoes, sea spray, plankton, and rotting vegetation.
The oxides of nitrogen are by-products of firing processes of extreme high temperatures, for example: automobiles, and utility plants; and in chemical industries, for example: fertilizer production, etc. Also, natural processes such as bacterial action in soil, forest fires, volcanic action, and lightning make up five percent of nitrogen oxide emission. Transportation makes up 43 percent, and 32 percent belongs to industrial combustion.
There are a number of things that acid rain effects in our environment. Forests, soil, lakes, streams, rivers, materials, and essentially mankind. One of the most serious impacts that acid rain has on our environment is acid deposition on our trees and soil. When Sulfuric Acid falls on the earth in rain, nutrients in the soils are washed away. Some of the aluminum also present in the soil is released and can be absorbed by the roots of trees. This ...
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of these species lay their eggs in the water making them extremely vulnerable.
When it comes to materials, acid rain is a problem. For example, flags that aren’t put away get eaten by the acid rain. Also books and old art are affected because the ventilation systems aren’t designed to prevent acidic particles form entering the buildings of such places as libraries and museums, which eventually gets circulated throughout.
Finally the effect on humans. The most serious problem that we have with this is when it comes to our respiratory problems. The sulfur oxide and nitric oxide emissions wreak havoc when it comes to asthma, dry coughs, headaches, eye, nose and throat ...
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"Acid Rain 10." Essayworld.com. Essayworld.com, 27 Aug. 2007. Web. 18 Nov. 2024. <http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Acid-Rain-10/70218>
"Acid Rain 10." Essayworld.com. August 27, 2007. Accessed November 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Acid-Rain-10/70218.
"Acid Rain 10." Essayworld.com. August 27, 2007. Accessed November 18, 2024. http://www.essayworld.com/essays/Acid-Rain-10/70218.
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