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Acid rain, also known as acid precipitation or acid deposition, is precipitation with a pH of 5.2 or lower that is primarily caused by the emission of sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx; the combination of NO and NO2) from human activities, primarily the combustion of fossil fuels. Acid deposition can reduce the pH of surface waters and reduce biodiversity in acid-sensitive landscapes. It weakens trees and makes them more vulnerable to damage from other stressors like drought, extreme cold, and pests.
Acid rain also depletes soil of important plant nutrients and buffers, such as calcium and magnesium, in acid-sensitive areas, and can release toxic dissolved aluminium bound to soil particles and rock. Acid rain contributes to the corrosion of air-polluted surfaces and is responsible for the deterioration of limestone and marble buildings and monuments.
Definition Of Acid Rain
Acid rain is composed of highly acidic water droplets that form as a result of air emissions, specifically the disproportionate levels of sulphur and nitrogen emitted by vehicles and manufacturing processes. Because this concept encompasses a wide range of acidic precipitation, it is commonly referred to as acid rain.
There are two types of the acidic deposition: the wet and the dry. Wet deposition refers to any type of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and deposits them on the earth’s surface. Dry deposition of polluting particles and gases sticks to the ground in the absence of precipitation via dust and smoke.
How Acidic Is Acid Rain?
Acidity is measured on a scale known as the pH scale. This scale has are the range of 0 to 14. The most acidic number is 0 and the most alkaline number is 14. (opposite of acidic). We call something with a pH of 7 neutral because it is neither acidic nor alkaline. Strong acids will burn your skin and can even dissolve metals if they come into contact with it. Acid rain is far weaker than this, and it is never acidic enough to burn your skin. Because it reacts with naturally occurring oxides in the air, rain is always slightly acidic.
The pH of unpolluted rain would also be between 5 and 6. When the air is polluted with nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide, the acidity rises to a pH of 4. Some rain has even been measured to have a pH of 2. Vinegar has a pH of 2.2, while lemon juice has a pH of 2.3. Even the most powerful acid rain recorded is only about as acidic as lemon juice or vinegar, and we know that neither of these is harmful to us.
The Precipitation Of Acid In The Form Of Rain
The term “acid rain” refers to any precipitation from the atmosphere that is abnormally acidic in nature. The term gained currency in the 1980s, when the negative effects of acidic precipitation on the environment first sparked widespread concern.
At its worst, acid rain can harm fish populations, degrade and even kill lakes and streams, cause building erosion, and be hazardous to human health. Recognizing this eventually led to the control of the emissions that were causing the acidification.
Atmospheric Pollutants Like Oxides Of Nitrogen And Sulphur React
We know that elemental nitrogen is a major component of the Earth’s atmosphere. As a result, it will take part in a variety of natural processes. It is in charge of the formation of nitrogen dioxide in the atmosphere. The chemical reaction of atmospheric nitrogen and oxygen during a thunderstorm is a classic example of nitrogen oxide formation. In the presence of lightning, a chemical reaction occurs to form nitric oxide, which then reacts with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide. Many natural phenomena are caused by sulphur and nitrogen oxides.
Similarly, sulphur oxides like sulphur dioxide enter the atmosphere through natural processes like volcanic eruptions. Furthermore, the oxidation of hydrogen and sulphide during the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of air results in the formation of sulphur dioxide.
Natural processes based on sulphur and nitrogen oxides have been taking place for many decades, and there has been a global balance of these gases in the earth’s atmosphere. However, in recent years, many anthropogenic or human activities have resulted in an increase in the amount of the compounds that is greater than the desired amount.
Conclusion
Acid rain, also known as acid precipitation or acid deposition, is precipitation with a pH of 5. Acid rain contributes to the corrosion of air-polluted surfaces and is responsible for the deterioration of limestone and marble buildings and monuments. Acid rain is composed of highly acidic water droplets that form as a result of air emissions, specifically the disproportionate levels of sulphur and nitrogen emitted by vehicles and manufacturing processes. There are two types of the acidic deposition: the wet and the dry. Dry deposition of polluting particles and gases sticks to the ground in the absence of precipitation via dust and smoke.
