What is acid rain and what are its effects?

Answer 1

Power stations, factories and cars all burn fuels and therefore they all produce polluting gases. Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid - which is why it is known as "acid rain". Answer: Acid precipitation is formed when sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from coal fired power plants and mines processing ores with a high content of sulfur are absorbed by water droplets. This forms sulfurous/sulfuric and nitrous/nitric acids. Some of the sulfurous acid can be transformed into sulfuric acid. The chemistry:

Sulfur dioxide and water form sulfurous acid (H2SO3)

SO2(g) + H2O(l) <--> H2SO3(aq) In some cases sulfur dioxide (SO2) oxidizes to sulfur trioxide (SO3)

2SO2(g) + O2(g) -> 2SO3(g) The sulfur trioxide (SO3) then combines with water making sulfuric acid (H2SO4)

SO3(g) + H2O(l) -> H2SO4(aq) Some oxides of nitrogen like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) react with water to form nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3)

2NO2(g) + H2O(l) -> HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)

Answer 2

When certain acidic pollutants (like carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen) are released into the atmosphere, they combine with rainwater to form weak acids

For example: Carbon Dioxide + Water --> Carbonic Acid

These acids are harmful.

Firstly, both natural vegetation and crops are affected by acid rain. The roots are damaged by acidic rainfall, causing the growth of the plant to be stunted, or even resulting in its death. Nutrients present in the soil are also destroyed by the acidity.

Secondly, the action of acid rain causes harmful elements like Mercury and Aluminium to be leached from the soil and rocks and it is then carried into the lakes where aquatic life may be affected.

Mankind depends upon plants and animals for food. Consequently humans are also affected.

Even buildings, bridges and other structures are affected. In cities, paint from buildings have peeled off and colors of cars have faded due to the effects of acid rain.

--Suhail--

Answer 3

Acid rain is very harmful to the environment. Acid rain damages everything over a period of time because it makes the living things in the environment die. Acid rain affects the life in the water as well as the life on land. It is almost worse in water than on land because the fish that are in the water need the water to breathe. When the water gets polluted, then the fish get sick and end up dying.

Answer 4

"Acid rain" is a broad term referring to a mixture of wet and dry deposition (deposited material) from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids. The precursors, or chemical forerunners, of acid rain formation result from both natural sources, such as volcanoes and decaying vegetation, and man-made sources, primarily emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx)resulting from fossil fuel combustion. In the United States, roughly 2/3 of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx come from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels, like coal. Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from power plants and other sources, prevailing winds blow these compounds across state and national borders, sometimes over hundreds of miles.

Answer 5

chemical pollution mixed with evaporated water in the clouds

Answer 6

NO2, SO4and CO2are the main gases cause acid rain when they are mixed in the rain. and

Answer 7

The gases that cause acid rain are mainly carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and sulfur dioxide.

Answer 8

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