What is acid rain?
Acid rain is a result of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced. The smoke that comes from a fire or the fumes that come out of a car exhaust don’t just contain the sooty grey particles that you can see – they also contains lots of invisible gases that can be even more harmful to our environment. Power stations, factories and cars all burn fuels and therefore they all produce polluting gases. Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid – which is why it is known as “acid rain”. How acidic is acid rain? Acidity is measured using a scale called the pH scale. This scale goes from 0 to 14. 0 is the most acidic and 14 is the most alkaline (opposite of acidic). Something with a pH value of 7, we call neutral, this means that it is neither acidic nor alkaline.
Acid deposition – commonly called acid rain – is caused by emissions of sulfuric dioxide and nitrogen oxides. Once released into the atmosphere they can be converted chemically into such secondary pollutants as nitric acid and sulfuric acid, both of which easily dissolve in water. The resulting acidic water droplets can be carried long distances by prevailing winds, returning to earth as acid rain, snow, or fog.
Although the term acid rain was coined in the early 1850s, around the time of the Industrial Revolution, it didn’t become a rallying cry for environmental reform until the late 1960s. The devastating effects of acid rain on the world’s water supply, fish populations and plant life can be traced back scientifically to the use of fossil fuels in factories. Public demonstrations held in the early 1970s helped bring about major changes in pollution and emission standards. Although the problem of acid rain still exists worldwide, many companies have taken steps to minimize its root causes. Acid rain is precipitation which contains traces of pollutants, primarily sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases created as fossil fuels like coal or oil burn. Around the time of the Industrial Revolution, large factories began to use coal to power their machinery. As the coal burned, it released large amounts of sulfur and nitrogen gases into the air through smokestack exhaust.
“Acid rain” is a term used to describe the many ways in which acids fall from the sky. Rain, snow, fog, dry gases, and particles may contain acids. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released by power plants, cars and trucks, and other sources cause acid rain. Acid rain harms plants, animals, fish, and building surfaces. It can also create smog in the air and hurt people’s lungs. Since the energy used to power modern life (electricity and burning fuels like gas and oil) is the main cause of acid rain, there are many things you can do to stop or reduce its effects. • Turn off lights, computers, and other appliances when you are not using them. • Only use electrical appliances when you need them. • Keep your home well insulated. • Carpool, use public transportation, or walk or bike when you can. • Use appliances that are energy efficient. • Buy vehicles that only give off low levels of nitrogen oxide. Look for electric- or gas- powered or alternative-fueled cars. Find and compare cars on
