Acid Rain : First deal with your own tears; tomorrow do something about acid rain.
As the name suggests, acid rain can be said to be the precipitation of acid in the form of rain in the most straightforward manner. When atmospheric pollutants like oxides of Nitrogen and sulphur react with rainwater and are available with the rain, this leads to Acid Rain.
The acidic deposition takes place in two different ways: wet and dry. Wet sediments are any form of precipitation that removes acids from the atmosphere and places them on the earth’s surface. In the absence of precipitation, dry deposition of polluting particles and gases sticks to the ground through dust and smoke.
The causes of acid precipitation are Sulphur and Nitrogen particles which get mixed with the wet components of rain. Sulphur and Nitrogen particles which get mixed with water are found in two ways either human-made because the emissions are given out from industries or by natural causes like how a lightning strike within the atmosphere releases from volcanic eruptions.
According to the Royal Society of Chemistry, which considers him the “father of acid rain,” the word “acid rain” was invented by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith in 1852. Smith selected on the name while studying rainwater chemistry near industrial towns in England and Scotland.
Even though it is clean, the regular clean water we experience, i.e. water and CO2, react together to make weak carbonic acid which virtually by itself isn’t overly harmful. The pH value of normal rainwater is around 5.7, giving it an acidic nature. The oxides of Nitrogen and sulphur are blown away by the wind along with the dust particle. They choose the earth’s surface after coming down within the sort of precipitation. Acid rain is a byproduct of human activities that emit the nitrogen and sulphur oxides within the atmosphere—such as burning fossil fuels and unethical waste emission disposal techniques.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo oxidation, and then they react with water resulting in the formation of the sulphuric acid and nitric acid, respectively.
Acid rain is extremely harmful to agriculture, plants, and animals. It washes away all nutrients which are required for the expansion and survival of plants. Acid precipitation affects agriculture by the way how it alters the composition of the soil. It causes respiratory issues in animals and humans. When acid rain falls and flows into rivers and ponds, it affects the aquatic ecosystem. As it alters the chemical composition of the water, to make which is harmful to the marine ecosystem to survive and causes pollution. Acid precipitation also causes water pipes’ corrosion, which further leads to leaching of heavy metals like iron, lead and copper into the beverage. It damages the buildings and monument made from stones and metals.
The only precaution that we will take against acid precipitation has a check at the emission of oxides of Nitrogen and sulphur. Being responsible citizens, one should remember the harmful effects they cause and the industries that give out Nitrogen and sulphur compound wastes unethically.
