Acid Rain Research Paper

Acid rain is a term that refers to a mixture of wet and dry deposited material that contains higher amounts of sulfuric and nitric acids. Acid rain can be caused by natural phenomenon such as the ash from a volcanic eruption or decaying vegetation. Acid rain can also be human made from the combustion of fossil fuels that releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. Acid rain transpires once these gases react within the atmosphere with oxygen, water, and other chemicals to create different acidic compounds. The effect of this reaction is a solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.

Sources of Acid Rain ,There are both natural and human contributions in the creation of acid rain. The many contributors to acid rain and although the pollutants

Acid rain can actually present itself as rain, fog, sleet, ice, fog, or hail etc. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (2014). Acid particles can contaminate almost any form of water. When acid rain presents its self in a dry form it can be seen as smoke, soot, and dust particles that also fall to the earth. Unfortunately the effects of acid rain does not stop as just rain, once on the ground the acidic particles mix with the water, making the water acidic and is carried as runoff into the surrounding streams and lakes, and any other nearby bodies of water. (Editorial Board (2014). This is also the case with other kinds of acid precipitation, eventually the snow or ice will melt and will run off and will effect nearby bodies of water (Editorial Board (2014). Acidic precipitation is a common occurrence in metropolitan areas because of the pollution from cars, factories, and power plants dew to the overwhelming amount of pollution in these

In the process of dissolution the sulfuric and nitric acids are released by the rain and react with the calcite that is found within marble, and limestone. This reaction causes the calcite to dissolve altering the details found in the stones. Gypsum is a chemical that routinely turns from white to black when there are a lot of pollutants in the air. Over a period of time the Gypsum eventually flakes off leaving the stone underneath in a compromised state (John Watson (1997). Acid rain can also effect the finishing touches on the structures we rely on every day. It can cause the paint on your car or home to fade or peel prematurely and effects buildings and structures the world