Disadvantages Of Acid Rain

Acid precipitation is a broad term that scientists use to describe various ways through which acid falls out from the atmosphere (Wondyfraw, 2014). Acid precipitation such as acid snow, hail, dew and fog form when sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide physically and chemically react with sunlight and water vapour (Chesapeake Bay Ecological Foundation, Inc., 2013.). Atmospheric SO2 alone has increased by 20 fold globally since the 1800s.( Lehmann et al., 2008).

Atmospheric acid deposition in form of rain, fog or snow was identified as major environmental problems for the countries in Europe, East Asia and North America (Bouwman et al., 2002). Normal precipitation pH is slightly acidic due to the presence of natural CO2 in the atmosphere However, a rainfall that has a pH value of less than 5.6 is considered as acid rain (Stephen KL, 1999). The recorded pH of the rainfall in Western Europe often range from 4.5 to 4 (Yadav RC, 2012) The main components of acid precipitation are sulphur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen dioxide dissolved in rainwater. When these components are present in the air and dissolved in water during rain, they forms various acids (Fig. 3) ( Wondyfraw, 2014). These acids greatly reduces the pH of the precipitation. The chemical reactions of these pollutants are discussed as

CO2+H2O > H2CO3 (carbonic acid)

SO2+H2O > H2SO3 (sulphurous acid)

NO2+H2O > HNO2 (nitrous acid) +HNO3 (nitric acid)

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