Acid Rain

[Niceshrp]

Hello,

 

I am doing an experiment/essay on acid rain...

and I need to formulate a reasearch question.

 

so,, I was wondering . Are nitric, sulfuric, and carbonic acid

components of acid rain. ?

 

If so, why would there be three different types of acid rain

and what would be the extent of their respective damage ?

[Airmid]

Hello,

 

I am doing an experiment/essay on acid rain...

and I need to formulate a reasearch question.

 

so,, I was wondering . Are nitric, sulfuric, and carbonic acid

components of acid rain. ?

 

If so, why would there be three different types of acid rain

and what would be the extent of their respective damage ?

 

Years ago I did an essay on acid rain too. It centered on the theory that not the acidity of the rain in itself was the problem, but rather the fact that it acidifies the soil and as a result frees up heavy metal ions that normally would be bound to clay and humus particles. But like I said, that was years ago, and I don't know if there have been any new insights in the meantime.

 

As to the components of acid rain, Wiki has a lot of useful information. Nitric and sulfuric acids are the main components of acid rain, but there's others too. They all have the same effect though: they acidify the soil and surface water, and that is what causes the problems.

 

Does the Wiki article give you ideas for a research question?

 

Airmid.

[Niceshrp]

Thank you for your reply ..

 

so... if you were looking at the effects of acid rain on plants...

they will not grow as much as the control since the soil is acidic ?

[Airmid]

That's right. You could do an experiment to that extent, with plants sprouted from seeds. But best do not use seeds that carry a lot of nutrients for the young plants, like peas and beans, but rather small seeds, like radish or cress.

 

Airmid.

[satrohraj]

Actually they are not the components of rain, They get mixed up with rain water

 

Nitric acid id formed when NO2 reacts with water in the presence of lightning

Similarly SO2 and CO2 react with water to give their respective acids

 

Damage from each acid is different, you better check them out at wikipedia