Tag: economics

Acid rain is a rain that is usually acidic (elevated levels of hydrogen ions) or low pH. It can have harmful effects on plants and aquatic animals. Acid rain is caused by emission of sulphur dioxides and nitrogen oxides which react with water molecule in the atmosphere to produce acids.

The ecological effects of acid rain are most clearly seen in the aquatic environments, such as streams, lakes, etc. Acid rain flows into streams, lakes and marshes after falling on forests, fields, building and roads. Acid rain water primarily decreases the pH of water sources from normal range (6 to 8 pH) Lakes and streams become acidic (i.e., pH values goes down), when water itself and its surrounding soil cannot buffer the acid rain water to neutralize it. In areas where buffering capacity is low, acid rain releases aluminium from soils into lakes and streams, aluminium is highly toxic to many species of aquatic organisms leading to their mortality. Therefore, limiting the survival of aquatic animals. So, the correct answer is 'Lowering of pH in ponds, limiting survival of aquatic organisms'.

Acid rain is acidic with a pH of below 5.6. Rain becomes acidic because of gases that dissolve in the rain. Approximately 70% of acid rain is a result of dissolved sulfur dioxide ($SO _2$), which forms sulphuric acid. The remaining 30% or so comes from various nitrogen oxides (mostly $NO _2$ and $NO _3$, which has collectedly called NOx). There are also a small percentage of hydrochloric acid and carbonic acid.

Acid rain refers to the precipitation with a pH of less than 5. It is a mixture of H$ _2$SO$ _4$ and HNO$ _3$, the ratio of the two acids vary depending on the relative quantities of sulphur oxides and nitrogen oxides present in the atmosphere. These oxides are mainly produced by combustion of fossil fuels, smelters, industries, power plants, automobile exhausts etc. SO$ _2$ and NO when present in large quantities dissolved in water vapour form sulphuric acid and nitric acid which dissolve in rain water resulting in acid rain (H$ _2$SO$ _4$ ) and (HNO$ _3$) which in turn causes great damage to forests and vegetation.

The oxides in the atmosphere can react with the water to form respective acids. Generally, the non-metal oxides such as sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide react with water to form sulphuric and nitric acid. These acids along with rain water fall on earth as acid rain.

Acid rain is a rain that is acidic, meaning it has very low pH. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air, they react with water and oxygen and produces sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids then mix with water and result in acid rain. Normal rain water is slightly acidic with a pH range of 5-6. When the pH level of rain water falls below this range, it becomes acid rain. It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure. 

Sulfur dioxide (SO$ _2$) and nitrogen oxides (NO$ _2$) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by the wind and air currents. The SO$ _2$ and NO$ _2$ react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These then mix with water and other materials before falling to the ground in the form of acid rain. When this acid deposits on land or water it results in acidity harming organisms. It also causes corrosion of building materials and paints. Thus the correct answer is option D.

Acid rain is a mixture of wet and dry deposition from the atmosphere containing higher than normal amounts of nitric and sulfuric acids.