Acid Precipitation

Examples of acid precipitation

Here are some different examples of acid precipitation or rain:

• Nitric acid rain is formed from the reaction between water and various nitrous oxides.
• Sulfuric acid rain is formed from the reaction between water and sulphur dioxide.
• Carbonic acid rain is formed from the reaction between water and carbon dioxide (carbonic acid is much weaker than nitric and sulfuric).

In environmental science, acid precipitation is not a stand-alone concept. Acid deposition is an umbrella term for any changes in acidity from atmospheric conditions. Acid deposition doesn't just refer to the liquid phase either, the term encompasses rain, snow, hail, gases, dust, and fog. Thus, there are two types of acid deposition that you need to come to terms with:

• Wet deposition: this is when sulfuric or nitric acid (formed from reacting nitrous oxides and sulfuric dioxide in the atmosphere) falls within rain, snow, hail, or sleet.
• Dry deposition is when acidic gaseous particles or particulates stick to surfaces and are washed from these surfaces by precipitation.

Acid Precipitation Formation

¿How is the process for acid precipitation formation? Hydrochloric, sulfuric, and nitric acid released from volcano activity can fall immediately as acid rain. From human activity, on the other hand, acid rains form when nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions react with atmospheric water to form nitric acid and sulfuric acid. These reactions will often occur in the aqueous phase but can also occur in the gaseous phase when no water is present. Here are the chemical equations for the formation of nitric acid and sulfuric acid:

SO₂ + H₂O→ H₂SO₄ →H⁺ + HSO₄ → 2H⁺ + SO₄²

NO₂ + H₂O→ HNO₃ → H⁺ + NO₃

Acid Precipitation Causes

The causes of acid precipitation, and deposition, are diverse, these include the natural release of gases, fossil fuel combustion, and agriculture. Let's go into more detail:

Natural Causes

Acid deposition is often regarded as being solely down to human activity, but gas emissions can release dangerous substances into the air too:

• Volcanic activity is the major contributor to natural acid deposition around the world. This is because volcanoes are constantly releasing dangerous gases into the atmosphere, and even release acids such as hydrochloric, nitric, and sulfuric directly into the atmosphere.
• Forest fires, large decomposition events, and other biological processes release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which has the potential to form carbonic acid.
• Lightning strikes fix nitrogen in the atmosphere and can form nitrous oxides, which then react with water to form acid rain.

Human Causes

Human activity is the largest driver of gaseous emissions that cause acid deposition and has been increasing exponentially since the Industrial Revolution. Sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides are by-products of a variety of man-made processes, ranging from electricity to power your homes to fossil fuels being burnt in vehicle engines. Let's have a look at some human activities that are causing acid precipitation:

Industrial Processes

Coal-burning power plants have been built around the globe in the last century to generate energy in the form of electricity, but the combustion of coal releases dangerous gaseous by-products. These include sulphur dioxide and nitrous oxides which will travel downwind of the plants and from acid rain. Nuclear power plants will also release sulphur dioxide as a by-product. The increasing requirement for electricity in modern times means it will be a struggle to limit the use of these plants.

Agriculture

The overuse of fertilisers and other agrochemicals containing nitrogen compounds can eventually result in acid rain. Nutrient-rich soils will leach into nearby waters and cause evaporating water to contain dangerous amounts of nitrate ions, which may react to form nitrous oxides and nitric acid during cloud formation.

Fossil Fuels

Transportation, heavy machinery, and mass production use fossil fuels for energy and release huge amounts of carbon dioxide. Atmospheric carbon dioxide not only acts as a greenhouse gas warming the planet but can also form carbonic acid and result in acid rain. The combustion of fossil fuels can release nitrous oxides and sulphur dioxide as by-products as well.

Human-induced Climate Change

The combustion of fossil fuels, deforestation, and agriculture all release greenhouse gases (such as carbon dioxide and methane) into the environment. These greenhouse gases will contribute to the greenhouse effect and warm the planet. Rising temperatures will increase the frequency and severity of precipitation patterns, meaning that acid rain will fall more regularly.

Effects of Acid Precipitation

Acid precipitation has damaging effects on soils, trees, and terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. They can also erode man-made buildings and statues. Let's go over some of these effects:

Fig. 1: Effects of acid rain on a forest.

Effects on Soils

Acid deposition increases the hydrogen ion content of the soils, which in turn decreases the availability of important ions such as calcium, magnesium, and potassium, which are essential for the growth of plants and trees.

• This is done by leaching of these ions into different soils or water.
• Increasing acidity also increases the chance of aluminium mobilization, resulting in the transition of aluminium hydroxides to poisonous aluminium ions.
• Dissolving nitrous oxides can be acted on by denitrifying bacteria causing an increase in the nitrogen content of the soil.

Effects on Terrestrial Ecosystems

The instant impacts of acid rain on ecosystems include the physical damage of any sheltering structures, such as the weakening of tree leaves and corrosion of rocky areas, as well as coastal erosion.

• Both these effects reduce habitat sizes and can cause ecosystems to become crowded or certain species to migrate to safer regions.
• The effects of acid deposition on the soil will have lasting consequences for the ecosystem. Magnesium ions are essential in photosynthesis while calcium ions are necessary for cell formation, so without access to these nutrients producer populations will begin to break down. Herbivorous consumers will therefore have fewer food resources.
• Exposure to aluminium ions stunts root growth in plants and reduces the ability of microorganisms to release nutrients into the soil.

Effect on Aquatic Ecosystems

Acid deposition and leaching of soils which have been affected have harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems.

• Many marine organisms become stressed in acidic environments, especially those that require carbonates to manufacture their exoskeletons (acidification reduces carbonate availability).
• The leaching of nutrient-rich soils from acid rain can cause anoxia in aquatic environments.
• The addition of nitrogen oxides increases the nitrogen content of the soil, when this soil is leached a process called eutrophication occurs.
• Increased nitrogen availability in waters causes algal populations to increase rapidly and form algal blooms on the surface. When these blooms are broken down by anaerobic bacteria, the available oxygen is used up and the ecosystem is suffocated.