Acid Rain

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Natural rainfall usually has pH value between 5 to 5.6. Acid rain refers to rainfall with pH < 5.0. Oxides of sulfur are emitted into the atmosphere as a result of combustion of fossil fuels, petroleum refining, copper smelting and cement manufacture. About 80 % of oxides of sulfur come from burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur dioxide (SO2), through series of chemical reactions gets converted into SO3. This trioxide form of sulfur on reaction with water produces sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and this is the principal component (60-70 %) of the acid rain. The conversion of sulfur dioxide into sulfuric acid is increased by the presence of metal ions like copper, lead and manganese and radicals like hydrocarbons and nitrogen oxides in the atmosphere and photochemical …show more content…

The reaction between lime stone (CaCO3) and H2SO4 takes place in the following manner: CaCO3 + H2SO4 CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O.
CaSO4 produced in this reaction is water soluble and is easily washed away, leaving behind an eroded and pitted surface.
Effects of acid rain
Acid rain causes a number of harmful effects. It causes deterioration of buildings especially made of marble e.g. monuments like Taj Mahal. Crystals of calcium and magnesium sulphate are formed as a result of corrosion caused by acid rain.
• It damages stone statues. Priceless stone statues in Greece and Italy have been partially dissolved by acid rain.
• It damages metals and car finishes.
• Aquatic life especially fish are badly affected by lake acidification.
• Aquatic animals suffer from toxicity of metals such as aluminium, mercury, manganese, zinc and lead which leak from the surrounding rocks due to acid …show more content…

Modern smog is a type of air pollution derived from vehicular emission from internal combustion engines and industrial fumes that react in the atmosphere with sunlight to form secondary pollutants that also combine with the primary emissions to form photochemical smog. A new type of smog known as photochemical smog was first observed in Los Angeles in the 1940s, Manila and Mexico City also experiences this kind of smog. Many other cities in Greece, Israel, Japan, Australia, India and the UK have subsequently been found to suffer from photochemical

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