Prepared By:

Zainab amjad Natasha Uzma Fakhra sadaf

Acid Rain! Acid rain i s a rain or any other form of precipitation

which is usually acidic i .e . elevated level of hydrogen ions ( low PH).

“Acid rain” is a popular term refer to “acid deposit ion”.

PH lower than 4.6 to 5.6

Contains unnatural acid.

Term was first considered to be important about 20 years ago when scientists in Sweden and Norway first bel ieved that acidic rain may be causing great ecological damage to the planet.

Types of acid deposition!

Two types: Wet deposit ion Dry deposit ion

Wet deposi ti on: Wet deposition of

acids occurs when any form of precipitation (rain, snow,fog etc.) removes acids from the atmosphere and delivers it to the Earth's surface.

Dry deposition: Dry deposition occurs

when particles and gases stick to the ground, plants or other surfaces.

This can be responsible for as much as 20 to 60% of total acid deposition.

Causes of Acid Rain:

Two main pollutants, causes acid rain: SO2

NO2

These pollutants add to our environment bcz of two types of phenomenon .

Anthropogenic activities. Natural phenomenon.

Natural phenomenon: Volcanoes Forest fire Biological processes lightning

Anthropogenic activities: Industries Vehicles Nuclear plants Power generation plants Brick kilns

Chemical Reactions:

SO2 + H2O H2SO4

2NO2 + H2O 2HNO3

Effects of Acid Rain:

Effects on Human being. Effects on plants. Effects on buildings and sculptures. Effects on soi l quality. Effects on water quality. Effects on animals and birds.

Acid rain damages man made structures and material .

Dissolve limestone, sand stone, marble, ceramics and metals etc.

So badly damage the buildings, monuments and sculptures.

As they lose their features when exposed to acid rain.

Also destroy the textile, paints, rubber and leather.

Acid rain destroys the forests:

It corrodes the waxy protective coating of the leaves. It results in making the plant susceptible to disease. The plant loses its ability to produce sufficient amounts of

nutrition for it to stay healthy. Once weakened, the plant becomes vulnerable to the cold

weather, insects, and disease, which can lead to its death. Dissolving toxic substances in the soil, such as aluminum,

which get absorbed by the roots. Also dissolves the beneficial minerals and nutrients in the

soil, which are then washed away before the plants and trees have a chance of using them in order to grow.

Effects of acid rain on humans: Acid rain harm us via the atmosphere as well as the soil where the food we eat is grown.Contaminated food can damage the nerves in children, or result in severe brain damage, or even death.

Causes the toxic metals to be released they can infiltrate into the drinking water, and the animals or crops that human use as source of food. Aluminum, one of the toxic metals affected by acid rain, is associated with Alzheimer’s disease.The emissions of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide cause respiratory problems like throat, nose and eye irritation; headache; asthma;Acid rain is particularly harmful for those who have difficulty in breathing or suffer from asthma. In fact, even the lungs of healthy people can be damaged by the pollutants in acid air.

Effects of acid rain on aquatic life:

A high amount of sulfuric acid interferes with the ability of fish to take in nutrients, salt, and oxygen.

As far as freshwater fish is concerned, the molecules of acid result in mucus forming in their gills, which prevents them from absorbing oxygen in adequate amounts.

The acidity, which reduces the pH level, causes the imbalance of salt in the tissues of fish.

Change in the pH level also impairs the some of the fish’s ability to maintain their calcium levels.

The eggs become to weak or brittle. Lack of calcium also causes deformed bones and weakened

spines.

Effects on animals & birds:Animals and birds, l ike waterfowl or

beavers , which depended on the water for food sources or as a habitat , begin to die due to Acid Rain.

Due to the effects of acid rain, animals which depended on plants for their food also begin to suffer .

Tree dwell ing birds and animals also begin to languish due to loss of habitat.

Strategies to prevent mother Strategies to prevent mother earth:earth:

• Lakes that have become highly acidic , can be treated by adding large quantities of alkaline substances l ike quicklime, in a process cal led l iming.

• Limit the quantity of emissions released in the atmosphere .

• Industries which use coal as fuel have begun to wash the coal before using it .

• Several industries have added scrubbers to their smoke stacks to reduce the amount of SO 2

dumped in the atmosphere.

……continued

• A reduction in use of vehic les wil l reduce the amount of emission caused by our vehicles.

• Reduce use of e lectric power. Switch off l ights, and other e lectr ical appliances when not required.

• Increasing awareness is one way of ensuring that things are done to solve this global problem.

• Join some group which works to protect the environment. When people get together and speak with one voice they are more l ikely to be heard .