"Acid rain" is a broad term used to describe several ways that acids fall out of the atmosphere. A more precise term is acid deposition, which has two parts: wet and dry.
Wet deposition refers to acidic rain, fog, and snow. As this acidic water flows over and through the ground, it affects a variety of plants and animals. The strength of the effects depend on many factors, including how acidic the water is, the chemistry and buffering capacity of the soils involved, and the types of fish, trees, and other living things that rely on the water.
Dry deposition refers to acidic gases and particles. About half of the acidity in the atmosphere falls back to earth through dry deposition. The wind blows these acidic particles and gases onto buildings, cars, homes, and trees. Dry deposited gases and particles can also be washed from trees and other surfaces by rainstorms. When that happens, the runoff water adds those acids to the acid rain, making the combination more acidic than the falling rain alone.
Prevailing winds blow the compounds that cause both wet and dry acid deposition across state and national borders, and sometimes over hundreds of miles. Scientists discovered, and have confirmed, that sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are the primary causes of acid rain. In the US, About 2/3 of all SO2 and 1/4 of all NOx comes from electric power generation that relies on burning fossil fuels like coal.
Acid rain occurs when these gases react in the atmosphere with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form various acidic compounds. Sunlight increases the rate of most of these reactions. The result is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid.{this is in detail}
2007-01-22 19:03:28
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answer #1
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answered by pramodh k 2
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Acid rain (or more accurately acid precipitation)[1] occurs when sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are emitted into the atmosphere, undergo chemical transformations and are absorbed by water droplets in clouds. The droplets then fall to earth as rain, snow, mist, dry dust, hail, or sleet. This can increase the acidity of the soil, and affect the chemical balance of lakes and streams.[2] The term "acid rain" is sometimes used more generally to include all forms of acid deposition - both wet deposition, where acidic gases and particles are removed by rain or other precipitation, and dry deposition removal of gases and particles to the Earth's surface in the absence of precipitation.[3] Acid rain is defined as any type of precipitation with a pH that is unusually low.[4] Dissolved carbon dioxide dissociates to form weak carbonic acid giving a pH of approximately 5.6 at typical atmospheric concentrations of CO2.[5] Therefore a pH of less than 5.6 has sometimes been used as a definition of acid rain.[6] However, natural sources of acidity mean that in remote areas, rain has a pH which is between 4.5 and 5.6 with an average value of 5.0 and so rain with a pH of less than 5 is a more appropriate definition.[7] The US EPA says, "Acid rain is a serious environmental problem that affects large parts of the US and Canada" [8] Acid rain accelerates weathering in carbonate rocks and accelerates building weathering. It also contributes to acidification of rivers, streams, and forest damage at high elevations. When the acid builds up in rivers and streams it can kill fish.
Hope this helps.
2007-01-16 10:36:59
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answer #2
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answered by Blues Man 7
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i'm in Malaysia besides, that's incredibly impossible for it to ensue, the nuke plant is a lot from Malaysia and in Japan and radioactive radiation does not reason acid rain. on the different hand interior the international have been living in we are dealing with a techniques worse air pollutive components on a on an popular basis foundation than radioactive. So except that's shown by government on national television or yet another stable business enterprise ignore approximately a majority of those ridiculous messages, some human beings purely rejoice with making a undesirable project worse by scaring the hell out of human beings.
2016-10-07 06:27:04
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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nitrogen and sulfur oxides, released by the burning of fossil fuels and many industrial processes
2007-01-16 10:15:57
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answer #4
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answered by angel_fish1791 2
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Volcanos can cause it....
Chemical disasters can lead to it...
You seem to be in a hurry...
2007-01-21 07:15:18
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answer #5
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answered by FOREVER AUTUMN 5
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I found this on the internet...It might answer your question...
Good Luck!
2007-01-16 09:42:48
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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