Tag: environmental economics

The reduction in the shine of Taj mahal is understood by the term called as marble cancer. Various pollutants are emitted by the industries situated near Agra, specially the Mathura refinery. These pollutants react with the marble forming a fine layer of dust over it and also various gases like sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxide combines with moisture and settles down as acid rain on the walls of the monument thus provides a yellow tingle to its pure white marble.

Acid rain is rainfall and other forms of precipitation with a pH less than 5. Acid rain is caused by large scale emission of acidic gases into the atmosphere from thermal power plants, industries, and automobiles. The common ones are sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic carbons and hydrogen chloride. These oxides combine with water to form acids.

When the industrial activities use the fossil fuels, the excess of this usage results in the release of oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur. These condense around in the troposphere and react with water to form the nitric acid, nitrous acid, and sulphuric acid. These acids precipitate with rain to form the acid rain. Acid rain is corrosive to the tissues, buildings etc.

Acid rain is rich in sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids have corrosive effects on the building material. They get deposited on the limestone, sandstone, marble etc. and increase their corrosion when exposed to the rain and fog.

The fossils burn in the atmosphere and forms oxides. These oxides combine with the precipitation and forms acids. This acid falls on earth as acid rain. The acid rain harms the flora and fauna. It also causes skin diseases.

Acidic compounds such as sulphuric acids and nitric acids are corrosive in nature and cause etching of marble, limestone and jewellery.

Acid rain is caused by the chemical reaction. Basically, rain that has unusually low pH is called acid rain. The most common chemicals that cause acid rain are sulphur oxides and nitric oxides. These substances rise high in the atmosphere where they react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutant. Sulphur dioxide on reaction with water and oxygen forms sulphur trioxide which is rapidly converted into sulphuric acid in presence of water.

The term acid rain was coined in 1872 by Robert Angus Smith. The acid rain is contains water having pH around 5.6. When the air pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and oxides of sulphur reach the troposphere, they react with the water or moisture and forms acids like nitric acid, nitrous acid or sulphuric acid. These acids then precipitate with the rain to form the acid rain. Hence, the correct answer is 'Angus'.

Acid precipitation lowers soil and water pH and directly damages plant foliage, leading to reduced photosynthetic capacity, lower biomass accumulation, and occasionally plant death.

Acid rain is caused by large-scale emission of acidic gases into the atmosphere from thermal power plants, industries, and automobiles. The common ones are sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides NOx, volatile organic carbons VOCs and hydrogen chloride. NOx is also produced in the atmosphere through lightning. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are changed in the atmosphere into sulphuric acid and nitric acid by combining with oxygen and water.