Damaging Effects of Acid Rain
Damaging Effects of Acid Rain
Acid Rain is, rain that is acidic (naturally). There is a pH level scale which tells if something is acidic or not. Due to certain chemicals in the rain it has a pH level of around 5.0, and sometimes even 4.0 (around volcanoes activity). The term acid rain is now used for rain with a pH below 5.
Acid rain is caused when gases, generally like sulfur dioxide (SO2), dissolves into water to form sulfuric acid. The rest comes from different oxides of nitrogen (mainly NO2 and NO3). The chemical reactions are the sulfur impurity will chemically combine with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. NO2 and NO3 alone can be harmful.
These gases remain in the atmosphere untill they become attached by coming into contact with rain that dissolves the gases into sulfuric acid rain drops. These rain drops fall to the earth and make there way to the rivers, lakes and oceans.
Acid rain is a problem, due to the rains acidity it has a harmful effect on almost every thing. One of the biggest problems is are water, it gets in the water and upsets the pH balance for aquatic animal and plant life. The gases found in the rain can cause breathing difficulties, even emphysema can be a effect found in people and animals. Trees get harmed too, which supply us with the oxygen we need to live. And are buildings are being ruined.
Steps are being taken to try to bring down the acid rain problem, the governments all over the world are talking, trying to come up with a solution. Some all ready have acted, passing laws. Some are limiting fuel use, and making power companies clean their facilities and clean their toxins they were putting out. Most people see acid rain as a problem but there are others doing stuff about it.