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ACID RAIN
- 1. NAME: Maryam Arif COURSE: BS.ED(Hons) 5th semester STUDENT ID: 2018-2326(morning) ADVANCE CHEMISTRY-1(environmental chemistry) Presented to : Dr Tayyabah M. Akram IER,PUNJAB UNIVERSITY LAHORE.
- 2. TOPIC: ACID RAIN AND ITS IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
- 3. INTRODUCTION: The term acid rain was coined in 1852 by Scottish chemist Robert Angus Smith, according to the Royal Society of Chemistry, which calls him the "father of acid rain.“ Smith decided on the term while examining rainwater chemistry near industrial cities in England and Scotland. He wrote about his findings in 1872 in the book "Air and Rain: The Beginnings of a Chemical Climatology." In the 1950s, scientists in the United States started studying the phenomenon, and in the 1960s and early 1970s, acid rain became recognized as a regional environmental issue that affected Western Europe and eastern North America.
- 4. DEFINITION: Rain or precipitation that contains elevated levels of hydrogen ions. Elevated hydrogen levels decrease pH levels. Decreased pH level creates an acidic atmosphere. Acid rain results from the combination of fossil fuel emissions and water in the atmosphere. Acid rain, or acid deposition, is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulphuric or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog, hail or even dust that is acidic.
- 6. CAUSES OF ACID RAIN: Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, natural fires, lightning and some microbial processes release sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. However, it is human action that causes most sulphur dioxide emissions due to the burning of fuels in industry and power stations, as well as half of nitrogen oxide emissions due to gases produced by motor vehicles. Likewise, although to a lesser extent, intensive livestock farming produces ammonia from the decomposition of organic matter.
- 7. These three pollutants, which can be transported over long distances from where they originate, oxidise in contact with the atmosphere and result in the formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids dissolve water droplets in the clouds and fall on the earth's surface as acid rain, which can also occur in the form of snow or fog. he regular clean rain we experience, even though it is not clean i.e. water and carbon dioxide react together to form weak carbonic acid which essentially by itself is not extremely harmful. The reaction occurring is : H2O (l) + CO2 (g) ⇌ H2CO3 (aq)
- 8. The pH value of regular rainwater is around 5.7, giving it an acidic nature. The oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are blown away by the wind along with the dust particles. They settle on the earth’s surface after coming down in the form of precipitation. Acid rain is essentially a by product of human activities emit oxides of nitrogen and sulphur in the atmosphere. Example – the burning of fossil fuels, unethical waste emission disposal techniques.
- 9. Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo oxidation, and then they react with water resulting in the formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid respectively. The following reaction will clarify the acid formation reaction: 2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 2H2SO4 (aq) 4NO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O (l) → 4HNO3 (aq)
- 11. FORMATION OF ACID RAIN: Acid rain is one of the consequences of air pollution. It occurs when emissions from factories, cars or heating boilers contact with the water in the atmosphere. These emissions contain nitrogen oxides, sulphur dioxide and sulphur trioxide, which when mixed with water become sulphurous acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid. This process also occurs naturally through volcanic eruptions.
- 13. AFFECTED AREAS: Some acid rain occurs naturally, but sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions from smokestacks combine with rain to make sulphuric and nitric acid in amounts that harm the environment. The region of the United States most harmed by acid rain is the East Coast, including the Appalachian Mountains and the Northeast.
- 14. People living in Punjab, and Lahore, the ‘heart of Pakistan’ in particular, have been breathing acid rain for years. It becomes more visible, dense and hurting when the temperature begins going down around November- December. it is man-made pollution — the result of bad policy choices for industrialisation, transport, urbanisation and power generation. Second, smog has been a persistent issue for the past couple of decades; so it is not something new that the Punjab or the federal government are witnessing. Third, there can, and there are scientific and policy interventions that we need to address the problem. Finally, it is not just humans that are suffering from acid rain, it is the plants, animals and micro-biological life that are equally affected.
- 16. EFFECTS OF ACID RAIN: Acid rain has significant effects on the world environment and public health. 1. Effect on Aquatic Environment: Acid rain either falls directly on aquatic bodies or gets run off the forests, roads and fields to flow into streams, rivers and lakes. Over a period of time, acids get accumulated in the water and lower the overall pH of the water body. The aquatic plants and animals need a particular pH level of about 4.8 to survive. If the pH level falls below that the conditions become hostile for the survival of aquatic life.
- 17. Acid rain tendency of altering pH and aluminium concentrations greatly affects pH concentration levels in surface water, thereby affecting fish as well as other aquatic life-forms. At pH levels below 5, most fish eggs cannot hatch. Lower pHs can also kill adult fish. Acid rain runoff from catchment areas into rivers and lakes has also reduced biodiversity as rivers and lakes become more acidic. Species including fish, plant and insect types in some lakes, rivers and brooks have been reduced and some even completely eliminated owing to excess acid rain flowing into the waters.
- 19. 2. Effect on Forests: It makes trees vulnerable to disease, extreme weather, and insects by destroying their leaves, damaging the bark and arresting their growth. Forest damage due to acid rain is most evident in Eastern Europe – especially Germany, Poland and Switzerland.
- 20. 3.EFFECT ON SOILS: Acid rain highly impacts on soil chemistry and biology. It means soil microbes and biological activity as well as soil chemical compositions such as soil pH are damaged or reversed due to the effects of acid rain. The soil needs to maintain an optimum pH level for the continuity of biological activity. When acid rains seep into the soil, it means higher soil pH, which damages or reverses soil biological and chemical activities. Hence, sensitive soil microorganisms that cannot adapt to changes in pH are killed. High soil acidity also denatures enzymes for the soil microbes. On the same breadth, hydrogen ions of acid rain leach away vital minerals and nutrients such as calcium and magnesium.
- 22. 4. Vegetation Cover and Plantations: The damaging effects of acid rain on soil and high levels of dry depositions have endlessly damaged high altitude forests and vegetation cover since they are mostly encircled by acidic fogs and clouds. Besides, the widespread effects of acid rain on ecological harmony have lead to stunted growth and even death of some forests and vegetation cover.
- 23. 5. Effect on Architecture and Buildings Real-Life Examples: Taj Mahal, one of the 7 wonders of the world, is largely affected by acid rain. The city of Agra has many industries which emit the oxides of sulphur and nitrogen in the atmosphere. People continue to use low- quality coal and firewood as a domestic fuel, adding to this problem. Acid rain has the following reaction with the marble (calcium carbonate): CaCO3 + H2SO4 → CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
- 25. Statue of Liberty which is made of copper has also been damaged by the cumulative action of acid rain & oxidation for over 30 years and is, therefore, becoming green.
- 26. 6. Effect on Public Health: When in the atmosphere, sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases and their particulate matter derivatives like sulphates and nitrates, degrades visibility and can cause accidents, leading to injuries and deaths. Human health is not directly affected by acid rain because acid rainwater is too dilute to cause serious health problems. However, the dry depositions also known as gaseous particulates in the air which in this case are nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide can cause serious health problems when inhaled. Intensified levels of acid depositions in dry form in the air can cause lung and heart problems such as bronchitis and asthma.
- 28. PREVENTIVE MEASURES: Since we are its main cause, the solution to the problem of the acidification of the environment is in the hands of humans: to mitigate acid rain, it is essential to reduce pollutant emissions. For this, there needs to be a commitment at government and corporate level to drive a series of measures: Filter and detoxify the water used by the factories before returning it to the rivers. Reduce the emission of pollutant gases by industry. Encourage the production and use of renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Reduce the energy consumption of factories and companies.
- 29. Promote innovation and new technologies aimed at optimising energy consumption and developing renewable energy. Plant trees to absorb polluted air. Make the population aware of the importance of reducing household energy consumption. Encourage the use of the electric vehicles and other non-polluting such as bicycles. Iberdrola group is fully aligned with this commitment to reduce the emission of polluting gases into the atmosphere. In this regard, it has proposed to have zero emissions in Europe by 2030 and to be carbon neutral globally by 2050.
- 30. RECOMMENDATIONS: The following are some suggestions to reduce acid rain: 1. Run the dishwasher with fully load 2. Run the washing machine with full load. 3. Buy energy-efficient appliances. 4. Avoid the use of air conditioners altogether. 5. Turn out the lights in empty room and when away from home. 6. Consider installing compact fluorescent bulbs instead of high-wattage inflorescent bulbs. 7. Turn out the hot water tank when going away for extended period of time. 8. Install additional insulation on hot water tank and pipes.
- 31. Transportation: 1. Have your vehicle engine turned at least once every six months 2. Use alternative fuels such as propane or natural gas. 3. Avoid unnecessary idling. 4. Drive at moderate speed. 5. Go to CFC-free 6. Take the train or bus on long trip.
- 32. CONCLUSION: Acid Rain is a very serious, and dangerous issue that plagues our world as we know it today. The sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide are both released in large amounts through the burning of different fuels such as coal and fossil fuels. Acid Rain hurts the environment by damaging the soil, killing plant life, damaging wildlife, and even servery hurting us humans. The damage it causes leads to very serious issues, and it even can effect the lives of those around you. One way you can stop it, you can start searching for cleaner forms of energy, such as solar power and electric cars. It may not seem as though Acid Rain is much of an issue, but it can cause more that you can even imagine.
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