Acid Rain

 Acid rain, acid deposition or acid precipitation is a broad term which is any form of precipitation with acidic compounds including sulphuric acid and nitric acid that falls down the Earth in dry or wet form. 

pH of acid rain

Acid rain have pH less than 5.6 (5.5 or less than 5.5) 

Slightly acid rain includes carbonic acid which is weak acid that is formed from CO2 in atmosphere without any pollutants

Sources of Acid rain 

1. Industrial process ( iron & steel production) 

2. Natural disasters ( volcanic erruption, sea sprays) 

3. Transportation

4. Industrial combustion 

5. Electric utilities

6. Industrial boilers 

7. By-product of firing process 

8. Natural process ( bacterial action, forest fires etc) 

How acid rain formed? 

S + O2 -----------> SO2 

SO2 + ½O2 --------> SO3 

SO3 + H2O ----------> H2SO4 

NO2 + H2O ----------> HNO3 

Acid Deposition 

1. Dry Deposition ( refers to acidic gases & particles)

2. Wet deposition ( refers to acidic rain, mist, fog ) 

Acidic fog & clouds 

Acidic fog is the process leads to formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid in the form of precipitation. 

It is different from clouds as fog is liquid water content contains 0.1 gm-³. While clouds contain magnitude larger. 

Effects of Acid rain 

On vegetation And plants

1. Remove wax protective layer 

2. Leach Aluminum 

3. Demineralization

4. Loss of soil fertility

On fishes and aquatic life 

1. Fish motility

2. Flora and fauna 

3. Rate of growth 

4. Reproduction rate 

5. Skeletal deformation in fishes 

On buildings and monuments 

1. Lime and marble ( CaCO3 into CaSO4 which is dissolved in water and corrodes from buildings) 

2. Glass windows & paints ( Ca into CaHCO3 which is soluble in water , CaCO3 & Fe2O3 corrodes by H2SO4) 

3. Leaches metals ( Zn, nickel, bronze and copper etc) 

On animals 

1. Eat trees, and plants 

2. Drink acidic water 

3. Death 

On human health 

1. Nerve damage 

2. Brain damage 

3. Alzheimer's disease

4. Respiratory problems( eyes, nose , throat irritation) 

5. Asthma and dry cough 

6 skin, lung and hair effects 

Control 

1. Use fuel that burn cleanly 

2. Use scrubbers in chimneys 

3. Fitting catalytic converters into exhaust pipes in automobile cars and vehicles.

4. Increase awareness

5. We must conserve energy 

6. Use renewable energy sources like solar energy, biofuel and hydroelectric power etc.

7. Industrial waste must be properly inspect and clean.