Acid rain: definition, causes and consequences

According to the Spanish Language Dictionary of the Royal Spanish Academy, to which we can go to answer what is acidic and, in fact, it is the best option to know its strict definition, the Definition of acid rain is “The precipitation in the atmosphere of the industrial emissions of acid pollutants”. Thus, it can be defined as the Rainwater mixture with environmental pollution or air pollution. It is an atmospheric phenomenon that involves serious problems for the planet, both for all nature and man -built artificial infrastructure. Do you want to know better why it is so? We explain it to you.

As we have already mentioned, the causes of acid rain are directly related to environmental pollution, we could say that direct causes are human activities through Factories, heating, electric plants, vehiclesetc., which burn oil derivatives with sulfur and also burn coal.

Now that we have clarified What is acid rain as well as the main Causes of acid rainthere are more aspects to be treated to know this environmental problem better. What produces acid rain specifically? What are its components? And how is it formed? These are common doubts about this atmospheric phenomenon, since to find solutions you have to know well the origin of the problem. Keep in mind that rain contains carbon dioxide, as well as any other form of environmental water such as snow, ice or fog. This makes this water a bit acid, on a pH of 5.6, but acid rain has a pH of 5being able to reach one of 3 when it is very acidic.

The acid rain It is formed when the water contained in the air, that is, moisture, comes into contact and mixes with Nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide. These are gases that, together with the water, produce sulfuric acid, sulfur acid and nitric acid, causing the rain to become more acidic than it is already and, when falling, it damages the environment in which it is found.

After knowing the definition of acid rain, its causes, its formation process, there is only one detail to clarify to know this problem better before addressing the effects and consequences of acid rain in the environment and for people. It is about knowing exactly the basic components of this rain, which allows its best understanding and that is something easier to think of solutions.

The formulas of the Primary components of acid rainthat is to say its precursors, they are the following:

• Environmental humidity water: H2O
• Nitrogen oxides: Nox
• Sulfur dioxide: SO2
• Sulfur trioxide SO3

The formulas of the acids resulting from the previous mixture that acidify the moisture forming the acid rain itself are the following:

• Sulfuric acid: H2SO4
• Sulfurous acid: H2SO3
• Nitric acid: HNO3

When combined with environmental humidity, these substances precipitate in a way of acid rain, falling on the earth, water, forests, buildings, etc., damaging everything due to their acidity. Therefore, acid rain deteriorates the environment.

In addition, pollutants that are expelled by burning oil derivatives with sulfur, coal, etc., not only contaminate air and humidity in the area in which they are created, but they can travel long distances by the windup to thousands of kilometers, before combining with moisture, becoming acids and falling in the form of rainfall, either the rain or snow itself, hail, fog, etc. This means that pollution can be created in a part of the world, but acid rain derived from that pollution can rush into another area of the earth. Between The effects and consequences of acid rain We find the following:

• Water acidification Lands, such as rivers, lakes, seas and oceans. Therefore, serious damage to aquatic life and terrestrial, unable to drink from these waters or feed on the fish and other animals that inhabit them.
• Important damage to vegetationin forest, jungle, etc. areas, directly and indirectly. This acidified atmospheric phenomenon contains protons that cause some ions to fall until it comes into contact with the Earth, for example of lead, zinc, calcium, iron or aluminum, and this impoverishes the soil, making nutrients lose. The direct consequence of this is that vegetables suffer from stress and nutrient deficiency that makes them ill, more vulnerable to contracting pests and even dying. Where this happens, there is less vegetation, less habitat and food for animals and people.
• It ends the life of nitrogen fixing microorganismsthat is, they reduce environmental nitrogen.
• The acidified rain damages and deteriorates the surface of materialsthat is, it has a corrosive effect on materials such as wood, stone and plastic, among others. For example, many buildings, monuments and statues have been affected when the marble or limestone that constitutes them, since the acids of these rainfall can dissolve calcium carbonate, which is part of the materials of these constructions.
• Acids containing sulfate in these rainfall cause Increased greenhouse effect. Although they can be small amounts of sulfate, these when coming into contact with certain components present in swampy areas, increasing the production of methane gas carried out by the metanogenic, the microorganisms that produce them naturally.

In summary, acid rain impoverishes soils, vegetables and waters, damages aquatic, terrestrial and aerial life and is related to the greenhouse effect.

After knowing what it is, the causes and consequences of acid rain, we have to think about solutions. What measures can be taken to reduce acid rain? This is a doubt that we make ourselves since the 80s, when there began to have awareness on this issue and solutions through treaties and laws with the aim of reducing pollution and, therefore, the acidity of rainfall and other environmental problems.

These are some solutions that respond to how to reduce the impact and How to avoid acid rainfocusing above all on reducing the emissions of polluting agents that produce the problem:

• Minimize sulfur and nitrogen levels In factories, heating, vehicles, etc.
• Boost the use of vehicles private, commercial, governments and public transport with systems of Natural gas, electric and other alternative options.
• Install a three -way catalytic converter in vehicles, which helps reduce harmful emissions.
• Reduce electricity consumption At home, for example not to leave the lights on or not use heating.
• Reduce the use of chemical substances In crops.
• Add alkaline compounds in ponds, lakes and rivers to balance pH.
• Plant trees.
• Promote education around environmental problems and their causes, consequences and solutions.

Know more about this topic in this other ecology article in which we tell you which are the possible solutions of acid rain.

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