Acid rain results when sulfur
dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted
into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react
with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids.These then mix with water and
other materials before falling to the ground.
Sulphur and Nitrogen particles which get mixed with water are found in
two ways either man-made i.e as the emissions that are given out from
industries or by natural causes like
lightning strike in the atmosphere releasing
nitrogen oxides and volcanic
eruptions releasing sulphur oxide.
Sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide undergo
oxidation, and
then they react with water resulting in the formation of sulphuric acid and nitric acid, respectively. The
following reaction will clarify the acid formation reaction:
рд╕рд▓реНрдлрд░рдбрд╛рдЗрдСрдХреНрд╕рд╛рдЗрдбрдФрд░рдирд╛рдЗрдЯреНрд░реЛрдЬрдирдбрд╛рдЗрдСрдХреНрд╕рд╛рдЗрдбрдСрдХреНрд╕реАрдХрд░рдг (oxidation) рд╕реЗрдЧреБрдЬрд░рддреЗрд╣реИрдВ, рдФрд░рдлрд┐рд░рд╡реЗрдкрд╛рдиреАрдХреЗрд╕рд╛рдердкреНрд░рддрд┐рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдХрд░рддреЗрд╣реИрдВрдЬрд┐рд╕рд╕реЗрд╕рд▓реНрдлреНрдпреВрд░рд┐рдХрдПрд╕рд┐рдбрдФрд░рдирд╛рдЗрдЯреНрд░рд┐рдХрдПрд╕рд┐рдб (sulfuric acid and nitric acid) рдХрд╛рдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдгрд╣реЛрддрд╛рд╣реИредрдирд┐рдореНрдирд▓рд┐рдЦрд┐рддрдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдПрд╕рд┐рдбрдирд┐рд░реНрдорд╛рдгрдкреНрд░рддрд┐рдХреНрд░рд┐рдпрд╛рдХреЛрд╕реНрдкрд╖реНрдЯрдХрд░реЗрдЧреА:
2SO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O
(l) тЖТ 2H2SO4 (aq)
4NO2 (g) + O2 (g) + 2H2O
(l) тЖТ 4HNO3 (aq)
Nitrous oxide
Please wait..
Nitrous oxide also known as 'laughing gas', is a
colorless, sweet-tasting gas. A prolonged continousbreathing of these vapors may impair the
decision making process.
It is noncombustible but it will accelerate the burning of combustible
material in a fire. It is soluble in water. Its vapors are heavier than air.
It is used as an anesthetic, in
pressure packaging, and to manufacture other chemicals.
Sulfur dioxide appears as a colorless
gas. It has got a choking or suffocating
odor. It is heavier than air.
It can prove to be very toxic if
inhaled and may irritate the eyes and mucous membranes.
It is used to manufacture chemicals, in paper pulping, in metal and food processing. It is also used as a disinfectant and as a preservative in breweries and
food/canning; textile industry; batteries.
Carbon dioxide and Chloroflorocarbons are Greenhouse gases
Please wait..
Greenhouse gases is a set of atmospheric gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide (N2O),
water vapour, and chlorofluorocarbons which are capable of trapping the out-going infrared radiation
from the earthтАЩs surface thereby causing greenhouse effect.