1. Corrosive, Harmful, Acidic Rain Celeste Keen

2. These are the questions I will address in the point of view of a chemist. 1. What is acid rain? 2. What chemicals make rain acidic, and how does it happen? 3. Where do these chemicals come from? 4. How do we measure the acidity of rain and what is pH? 5. What is the pH of normal rain, and at what level does the pH become dangerous? 6. What can power stations and industry do to reduce acid rain? 7. What can we do to reduce acid rain?

3. 1. Acid rain is polluted rain. It is chemically different from normal rainfall. Acid rain is also called Acidic deposition. 2. It forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with the water. The nitrogen monoxide slowly combines with oxygen to form soluble nitrogen dioxide gas. 2NO(g) + O2(g) => 2NO2(g) Nitrogen dioxide easily dissolves in water producing a mixture of nitric and nitrous acids. 2NO2(g) + H2O(l) ==> HNO3(aq) + HNO2(g) 3. These chemicals come from the billowing black clouds of smoke from big corporate factories. The burning of fuel to power the heavy machinery used to make such things as cars, beds, etc. lets toxic chemicals such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and oxides of nitrogen into the air. 4. The normal levels of acid rain are above 5.6 on the pH scale. To read this, you would collect a sample of rain and test it with a pH strip. 5. The pH of normal rain is about 5.6. The pH at which fish die in ponds when affected by acid rain is 4.9. so some would say it becomes dangerous in as little as.7 points difference.

4. 6. By investing in better technologies, factories can cut down on their emissions. These technologies have been developed to cut the emissions way down. The companies would have to pay for them and that is a major reason these machines are not being used. 7. To reduce acid rain ourselves, we need to conserve energy. By shutting off lights, unplugging chargers and things when we are not using them, we are decreasing the amount of energy we use. Limit air conditioning use, turn everything off when you leave, and you can even buy more efficient light bulbs and household items.

5. 1. What effect does acid rain have on trees and soil? 2. How does the effect of acid rain on trees and soil affect us? 3. What happens when lakes and aquatic systems become acidic? 4. How does acidic water systems affect us? 5. Are the aquatic systems in our area being affected by acid rain? If yes, to what extent? 6. What are the danger signs of the effect of acid rain on aquatic systems?

6. 1. Acid rain doesn’t usually kill trees directly, but it weakens them by killing their leaves and limiting the amount of nutrients the tree can absorb, poisoning them. The soil has a resistance to some ph change which is called buffering capacity. But not all acid can be absorbed by the soil so it is transferred into the roots of the trees. 2. The soil our food is grown in can be affected by acid rain. Therefore it will not produce good crops, giving us a smaller harvest and a strain on food supplies. It dissolves the aluminum ions in the soil. This causes other issues like the trees defoliating which will decrease clean oxygen levels. 3. The acid can be dangerous to many types of aquatic species. Fish become unable to take in oxygen. Reducing biodiversity can cause great damage to an ecosystem. 4. Some drinking water can become contaminated. This poses a serious health threat. It can contain a dangerous level of arsenic and lead.

7. 6. Some danger signs to watch out for are dead or floating fish, and aquatic life, dirty looking water, or anything that is not normal for that body of water. There can also be excess foam. 5. Almost everyone is affected. With the recent nuclear struggle, my guess is that the west coast is getting some sort or acidic consequences. Chances aren't minimal but they aren't extreme.

8. 1. How does acid rain affect humans? 2. What are some of the direct effects of acid rain on humans? Are there any health problems associated with acid rain? 3. What are some of the indirect effects of acid rain on humans? Does acid rain affect our sources of food, water, and air. 4. What are the consequences of the effects of acid rain on people?

9. 1. Acid rain (sulfur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide) can cause serious health problems for someone. It can affect your car, your home, and your food supply. 2. Acid rain can cause many health problems in humans. All the pollutants that the water carries cause conditions like asthma. People with heart and liver problems are severely affected. It’s the sulfur dioxide & nitrogen dioxide that cause problems. In addition acid rain causes dry coughs, headaches, eye, nose, and throat irritations. Acid rain can also damage or irritate our lungs. It can cause liver problems and can give you diarrhea. Acid rain is more dangerous to older people and to people who have heart problems or heart disease or problems with the respiratory system. It is dangerous for people who have problems with their respiratory system because sulfur that is held in the acid rain gets into your system.

10. 4. The more acid rain there is, the more deadly diseases are worsened. The food supply can be cut in half. Many people could starve. 3. It may also affect humans because the acid goes into fruits, vegetables and animals. In other words, if acid rain doesn't stop and we eat these things we can get very sick. Mostly, people are harmed by acid rain but not directly.

11. 1. Does acid rain affect buildings? 2. What does acid rain do to our roads, highways, and bridges? 3. What is the effect of acid rain on things made from metal such as cars, trains, buses, and other means of transport? 4. What does the effect of acid rain cost us in terms of money? 5. What are the economic effects of acid rain on fisheries, forestry, and agriculture?

12. 1. Acid rain is very corrosive. Buildings structures can be weakened. The paint will peel and the foundation will become very porous. 2. Roads and highways are paved. The acid in the rain can wear pot holes into the pavement creating a road hazard and then the states dollar has to pay for it to be fixed. 3. Cars paints become old looking and starts to peel. It will wear the metals down on our modes of transportation.

13. 4. Acid rain costs Canada one billion dollars a year in loss of trees and 2 to 4.5 billion in lost food. 5. As stated before, acid rain kills wildlife and fish. It also damages forests buy killing the leaves on the trees. This in turn kills opportunities to build houses and make paper products. No paper means no money. The economy could take an even worse turn for the worse. Worst case scenario, we could have another depression.