2. What is Acid Rain?
Acid rain is rain polluted by acid that has
been released into the atmosphere from
factories and other industrial processes.
Acid rain is harmful to the environment.
It includes any form of precipitation with acidic
components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid that
fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or
dry forms.
This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even
dust that is acidic.
3.
4. Where do SO2 and NO2 Particles
Come From?
Sulfur dioxide(SO²) emits from power plants,
metal processing and from vehicles.
Nitrogen dioxide(NO²) emits from burning of
fossil fuels like gasoline, utility plants,
especially coal-fed electric power plants.
Automobiles also emit acid rain causing
5. Measuring Acid Rain
Acid Rain and the pH Scale
The pH scale measures how acidic an
object is. Objects that are not very acidic
are called basic. The scale has values
ranging from zero (the most acidic) to 14
(the most basic). As you can see from the
pH scale above, pure water has a pH value
of 7. This value is considered neutral—
neither acidic or basic. Normal, clean rain
has a pH value of between 5.0 and 5.5,
which is slightly acidic. However, when rain
combines with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen
oxides—produced from power plants and
automobiles—the rain becomes much more
acidic. Typical acid rain has a pH value of
4.0. A decrease in pH values from 5.0 to 4.0
means that the acidity is 10 times greater.
6. Sources of Acid Rain
The principal cause of
acid rain is sulfur and
nitrogen compounds
from human sources,
such as electricity
generation, animal
agriculture, factories,
and motor vehicles.
9. Acid Rain affecting
Monuments
Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is largely affected by acid
rain. The city of Agra has many industries which emit the oxides of
sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. People continue to use low-
quality coal and firewood as a domestic fuel, adding to this problem.
Acid rain has the following reaction with the marble (calcium
carbonate):
CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(l) → CaSO4(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g)
The formation of calcium sulphate results in the corrosion of this
beautiful
10. Statue of Liberty which is made of copper has
also been damaged by the cumulative action
of acid rain and oxidation for over 30 years
and is, therefore, becoming green.
Statue Of Liberty Acid Rain
12. What Can We do to prevent Acid
Rain?
We can Use Less Energy….
– Turn off lights at home and cclassroom when
not in use
– Turn off computers
– Ride bikes when possible
– Use less paper
– Recycle
Acid rain may feel like a huge problem, but there are actually
many things that you can do as an individual to help prevent it.
Any step you can take to conserve energy will reduce the
amounts of fossil fuels that are burned to produce that energy,
thereby reducing the formation of acid rain.
How can you conserve energy? Purchase energy-saving
appliances; carpool, use public transportation, walk, or bike
whenever possible; keep your thermostat low in the winter and
high in the summer; insulate your house; and turn off lights,
computers, and appliances when you're not using them.
