What Is Acid Rain

Acid rain is the common name for acerb deposits that revert to Earth from the atmosphere. The term was coined in 1872 by English apothecary Robert Angus Smith to describe the supermanic precipitation in Manchester, England. Today scientists study both wet and dry stingingic deposits. Although there are natural sources of acid in the atmosphere, acid rain is primarily caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) from electric car utilities burning fossil fuels, especially coal. These chemicals are converted to sulfuric acid and nitric acid in the atmosphere and groundwork be carried by the winds for m each miles from where the original emissions took place. (See grade 7.1.)

unshakable deposition occurs when the acid falls in rain, snow, or ice. budge deposition is caused by very tiny particles (or particulates) in burn emissions. They may stay dry as they fall or pollute cloud water and precipitation. Moist deposition occurs when the acid is trapped in cloud or fog givelets. This is intimately common at mellow altitudes and in coastal areas. any(prenominal) its form, acid rain can create dangerously high levels of acidic impurities in water, soil, and plants.





Measuring Acid Rain

The sourness of any solution is measured on a potential heat content (pH) scale numbered from zero to 14, with a pH value of vii considered neutral. Values higher than cardinal are considered more alkalescent or basic (the pH of baking soda is eight); determine lower than seven are considered acidic (the pH of dirty dog juice is two). The pH scale is a logarithmic measure. This manner that every pH change of one is a ten-fold change in acid content. Therefore, a decrease from pH seven to pH six is a ten-fold increase in acidity; a drop from pH seven to pH pentad is a 100-fold increase in acidity; and a drop from pH seven to pH four is a 1,000-fold increase. (See Figure 7.2.)

Pure, distilled water has a neutral pH of seven. Normal rain has a pH value of about 5.6. It is slightly acidic because it accumulates...If you want to get a full essay, order it on our website: Orderessay



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