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acid rain

Acid Rain is a serious problem with disastrous effects. Every day this problem increases. Many believe that this issue is too small to deal with, but if the acid rain problem is not met with head on, the effects on people, plants, animals, and the economy will only worsen. In the following paragraphs you will learn what acid rain is, the effects it has on human life, animals, the economy, the economic costs, and what is being done to help to stop this problem. This topic is very important because acid rain effects everyone everywhere all over the world.I. What is acid rain?Acid rain is the combination of two chemicals released into the atmosphere. These chemicals are sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (Nox). Natural sources such as volcanoes, sea spray, rotting vegetation and plankton are all contributors to acid rain, but burning fossil fuels, such as coal and oil which are referred to as dry emissions are largely to blame for more than half of the emissions into the world.2 Nationally, one hundred and twenty tons of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the air each day.4A. How is acid rain formed?When the sulfur dioxide reaches the atmosphere, it oxidizes to first form a sulfate ion. I


• Contact local environmental groups about their involvement in the acid rain issue.4

• Study historical sites, buildings or monuments in your area and determine how they are being affected by acid rain.4VI. ConclusionAcid rain can be a devastating problem to all countries, but with the implementation of the Clean Air Act, the Accord, and many other reforms that call for the reduction of sulfur and nitrogen oxide releases, the acid rain problem can be regulated. With help from everyone being conscious about what they are doing day to day to contribute to the problem, the issue can turn to be a problem of the past. Since the passage of the Clean Air Act, acid rain levels have fallen dramatically across large portions of North America.8 But the decline doesn’t mean that the problem is gone. There is still much that everyone can do to help the problem and to help lower the annual cost to the economy.If you are interested in learning more about the acid rain problem you may want to contact the Acid Rain Foundation in Raleigh, North Carolina, The Department of Environmental Protection in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, or Pennsylvanians for Acid Rain Control in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. These and thousands of other organizations strive to educate the community about the acid rain problem and would be more than happy to send you information about what you can do to help.College Resources

t then becomes sulfuric acid when it joins with hydrogen atoms in the air and falls back down to earth, usually in the form of rain, snow, or fog.1 Oxidation occurs the most in clouds and heavily polluted air where other compounds such as ammonia and ozone help to catalyze the reaction, converting more sulphur dioxide to sulphuric acid. The following are the stoichiometric equations for the formation of sulphuric acid:S (in coal) + O2 ? SO22 SO2 + O2 ? 2 SO3SO3 + H2O ? H2SO4Nitric oxide and nitric dioxide are also components of acid rain. Its sources are mainly from power stations and exhaust fumes. Like sulphur dioxide, these nitrogen dioxides also rise into the air and are oxidized in the clouds to form nitric acid. Through this diagram you can better understand how acid rain is formed and emitted into the earth:II. Effects of acid rainAcid rain causes problems in almost every aspect of the environment. Acid rain can have a devastating effect on aquatic life, crops, forests, buildings, and also human life. A. The human environmentAcid rain has a multiplicity of effects in the human environment. The corrosion of limestone buildings in towns and cities is one such effect. The acid also eats through the pipes that channel water to the lakes. Far more insidious are the increasing incidents of lung cancer, bronchitis, emphysema and asthma attributed to breathing in the tiny particles of sulphur and other pollutants.2 Many people drink water everyday that is laced with these harmful chemicals without even knowing it.B. The natural environmentMuch of the early concerns over the effects of acid rain are on the trees. The concern is centered on the direct contact of the acid rain to the leaves of the trees. It was estimated that more then sixty five percent of trees are effected by acid rain.1

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Approximate Word count = 2153
Approximate Pages = 9 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

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