Acid deposition
by: Camry Bradord
good/bad comparrison
Acid Deposition more commonly referred to as acid rain is a growing problem in our world. Acid rain pollution is growing by the day, part of the problem has to do with human’s ignorance of the situation. Most people are unaware of what acid rain is and how dangerous it can be to our environment. What is acid deposition? Acid deposition is a deposit of water vapor formed in the atmosphere (Encarta Dictionaries). Acid rain is caused when carbon dioxide floats through the atmosphere and combines with water. The H2O of water and the CO2 mix to form H2CO3, an acid solution. There are many negative effects of acid rain such as damages to humans, forests, lakes and rivers, and wildlife. Aside from its negative affects there is one positive affect of acid rain.
There are very few positive aspects associated with acid rain. The only benefit researchers think they have discovered about acid rain is its reduction of global warming. The new study shows that the natural production of methane gases by microbes in wetland areas helps limit global warming. Global warming itself will only fuel the production of methane as heating up the microbe’s causes them to produce even more methane. But the new model suggests that sulfur pollution from industry reduces this. This is because sulfur-eating bacteria also found in wetland regions outcompete the methane-emitting microbes. Experiments have shown that sulfur deposits can reduce methane production in small regions by up to 30 per cent by activating the sulfur-eating bacteria.
There are many negative effects associated with acid rain one of its effects can be seen on buildings and human structures. You will notice this on buildings that appear worn down and outdoor statues made from marble or other calcite materials. The acid interacts with this stone and eats it away. Acid rain deteriorates the paint on sculptures, buildings, and cars as well lowering their value. Dry deposition of acidic compounds can also make building and other sculptures dirty. These problems leading causes companies to lose money due to an increase in maintenance cost.
Many lakes and streams examined in a National Surface Water Survey (NSWS) suffer from chronic acidity, a condition in which water has a constant low pH level. Contamination of our lakes and streams is another problem associated with acid rain. Rain naturally seeps into groundwater and runs through soil to surface water, such as streams and lakes. On its way toward groundwater, the acid rain is often neutralized by the minerals it encounters, but runoff into surface water can pose more dangerous problems. First of all, all lakes and streams have a general pH level that allows natural organisms to survive in the local area. If this balance is made too acidic, it can kill some kinds of smaller organisms, which in turn affects the entire food chain.
Acid rain also affects human in an indirect way. Being exposed to acid rain through swimming or just being caught outside on a rainy day can lead to danger. The chemicals that lead to acid rain sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide is what makes it hazardous to human health. As these pollutants are released and travel through the air they enter our lungs as we breathe. Scientific studies show relationship between the increase of acid rain particles and increased illness and premature death from heart and lung disorders, such as asthma and bronchitis.
It can be concluded that acid depositions negative effects outweigh its good. While acid deposition is said to reduce a major problem in our world which is global warming it is also responsible for creating several more problems. In order to reduce this problem we can take action by cleaning up smokestacks and exhaust pipes, using alternative energy sources, restoring damaged environment, and taking individual action. But even if acid rain could be stopped today, it would still take many years for its harmful effects to disappear.
Natural Process
Acid depositions, occurs naturally from lightning, volcanic eruptions, pollution from forest fires, vegetable and other organic decay and various other natural factors, including ocean spray. Acid rain contains a pH of less than 4 and is produced by rain water falling through volcanic emissions. The rain from volcanic eruptions, with a pH between 1.5 and 3.5 has the corrosive property of battery acid(Sam Taylor). The plume cloud also contains tiny glass fragments that can irritate the eyes and, in rare cases, cause permanent damage. Lightning creates sulfur dioxide and this then evaporates into the clouds. It dissolves into the water and creates acid rain.
Lightning causes forest fires and forest fires produce carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide combines with water in the atmosphere to make carbonic acid. Forest fires and volcanoes produce hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide. Hydrogen sulfide and sulfur dioxide combine with water to make sulfuric acid. Every forest fire produces carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, which combines with rain to make carbonic acid and sulfuric acid. There are about 80 forest fires at any time in the United States alone. All fauna emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Compared to nature, acid from industry is probably less than 5 percent of the total. Natural causes of atmospheric pollutants account for less than 10% of the total; about 95% of nitrogen oxides and more than 90% of sulfur dioxide released into the air are generated by mankind(National Geographic).
Anthropogenic Process
Over time humans have put a lot of different chemicals into the air. Human’s actions are the main cause of acid rain. The release of different chemicals in the air by humans has changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants release most of the sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal to produce electricity. Fossil fuels are substances found below the surface of the earth that can be burned to create energy. The three primary fossil fuels are coal, oil, and natural gas. Also the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses release nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. All of these pollutants are causes of acid rain.
The gases responsible for acid deposition are normally a byproduct of electric power generation and the burning of coal. Coal plants are the leading cause of SO2 pollution, which forms acidic particles that can penetrate into human’s lungs and be absorbed by the bloodstream. Winds may spread these acidic solutions across the atmosphere and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil. Acid rain makes waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. This combination makes waters toxic to crayfish, clams, fish, and other aquatic animals.
chemical equations
CO2 + H2O H2CO3
Co2 is the chemical formula for carbon dioxide
H2o is the chemical formula for water
H2CO3 is the chemical formula for carbonic acid. '
Major sources of industrial sulfur dioxide.
SO2(g) comes from mining smelters and the burning of coal.
i) The roasting of minerals releases SO2(g) from
Metal sulfide + oxygen ==> Metal oxide + SO2(g)
ii) Electrical power stations that burn coal produce sulfur dioxide from the sulfur impurities in the coal.
S(s) + O2(g) ==> SO2(g)
The SO2(g) combines with water to produce sulfurous acid.
H2O(l) + SO2(g) ==> H2SO3(g)
Source of nitrogen oxides
N2(g) + O2(g) 2NO(g)
Nitrogen dioxide readily dissolves in water producing a mixture of nitric and nitrous acids.
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) ==> HNO3(aq) + HNO2(g)
works cited
-Taylor, Sam. "What Is Acid Rain?" EPA. Environmental Protection Agency, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.
- Acid Rain Facts." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 11 Dec. 2014
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"How Much Should You Worry About Acid Rain?" About. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2014.