Acid Rain
It is rain or any form of precipitation that is acidic which means that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions. It is caused by a chemical reaction that would begin with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide that would be released in the air. When they react with water, and oxygen or other substances in the air, they create acid rain. Acid rainwater mixes with water in other water bodies. The acid releases hydrogen ions which combine with the water molecules rm hydronium ions. This decreases the pH of water and increases the acidity of the water.
Acid Rain
How does it effect people?: The acid rain contains sulfur dioxide , that can be released into the air, which can be the cause of various harmful diseases and chronic lung problems if too much is inhaled.
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How does it effect plants and trees?: The fog of acid rain can cause leaves to turn brown and could cause them to wilt. When the water from the rain mixes in the soil, it will dissolve necessary nutrients such as magnesium and calcium. It also causes aluminum to be released into the soil which makes it difficult for trees and plants to take in water.
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How does it effect animals?: This rain is harmful to many animals, especially those living underwater. The acid takes away sodium in the blood and takes away oxygen from the tissues. The rain also impacts the functioning of fish gills. Even if a species of fish or animal can tolerate moderately acidic water, the animals or plants they consume may not be able to.
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What can we do?: A way to help us reduce acid rain is to produce our energy without using fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are natural like coal which are formed from the remains of living organisms. Instead of using these harmful chemicals, we can use renewable energy such as solar power or wind power. These sources help reduce acid rain and produce less pollution in the air. The reason why solar power helps reduce less pollution than fossil fuels is that solar power has cells known as photovoltaic and they don’t need to rely on the water to generate their power, unlike fossil fuels. Wind power also does not rely on water as well to generate power which helps reduce acid rain as well
