CAUSE AND EFFECT CHEMICAL REACTION

CAUSE AND EFFECT OF RAIN ACID

Naturally, acid rain has a degree of acidity (pH) slightly below 6 because carbon dioxide gas (CO2) reacts with water vapor (H2o) in the air to create acid rain. This acid rain is very good in terms of helping dissolve minerals, but become a metal enemy.

Understanding acid rain on this day widespread. Why? Because it also involves nitrogen and sulfur gas (sulfur) in the air which then reacts with oxygen to form nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).

The gase then reacts again with H2O (water vapor) to form nitric and acidic acids that eventually condense; Forming clouds that lower acid rain.

There are various opinions that state about the factors causing acid rain.

A.   Factors Cause Acid Rain

Ø  Basically This acid rain is caused by two air pollutants ie, SO2 or Sulfur Dioxide and NOx or Okside Nitrogen both of which are created / generated through combustion. However, about 50% of the Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) that exists in the Earth's atmosphere is created naturally, that is, coming from forest fires or volcanic eruptions. While the other 50% is the result of human activities, for example due to smelting metal, burning BBF, and power plants. Petroleum generally contains 0.4 to 5% of the coal and sulfur is between 0.1% to 3%. When the BBF is burned, the sulfur with a concentration of 0.1% -3% is oxidized, and there is sulfur dioxide / sulfur dioxide (SO2) and loose in the air. The sulfur / sulfur oxide is then converted to sulfuric acid (Soemarwoto O, 1992).

Ø  Acid rain is caused due to the formation of acid in the air is triggered from the meeting of acid-forming gases with water vapor. Usually it happens because of pollution / air contamination around the factory. Gases that are often the cause of acid rain include:

1.   Carbon monoxide (CO) and Carbon dioxide (CO2)

Both gases come from motor vehicle pollution, combustion products, etc., which when the two gases meet the water vapor (H2O) will form carbonic acid (H2CO3) which is classified as weak acid.

2.  Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and Sulfur dioxide (SO2)

Both gas comes from heating sulfur / burning. Generally these gases are found in heavy industrial areas, which when they meet with water vapor (H2O) will form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) which is classified as strong acid. The acid acid rain rate is calculated from the concentration of acid in the air, which is indirectly, meaning also calculated by the degree of pollution / air pollution in the air. In normal status, in fact, CO2 in the air causes the rain we normally enjoy it is acidic. But the pH is not far below 7. In contrast to areas with severe pollution / air contamination, the degree of acidity (pH) is much lower. There is a close and direct connection between corrosion and acid rain. Corrosion, is the process of weathering metal by substances belonging to oxidizer. And acid, is a substance that can easily oxidize metals. So in the event of acid rain, there will certainly be corrosion in the metals affected by acid rain.

B.     Effect Of Acid Rain

Acid content in rainfall causes rain to have the same properties as acid solutions in general. The acid present in acid rain is a strong acid. After learning about the nature of acids, can you estimate what impacts can be caused if acid rain occurs in a region?

Naturally the rain is acidic with a pH between 5.6 to 6.2 because of the CO2 content in the air. CO2 in the air reacts with water vapor to form a weak acid that is carbonic acid (H2CO3). However, the acidity caused by H2CO3 is considered normal because this type of acid is useful to help dissolve the soil minerals needed by plants and animals. Unlike the content of H2SO4 and HNO3 which is a strong acid that can damage the living tissue. Here are some of the impacts of acid rain on the environment and living things:

Ø      Acid rain with high acidity levels can cause respiratory distress in humans. The fog containing sulfuric acid together with the air inhaled and into the human respiratory tract can damage the lungs.

Ø  Causes corrosion and damage to buildings

Acid rain can accelerate the corrosion process. The corrosion process can occur on some materials of metal. Corrosion is the event of metal destruction caused by chemical reactions between metals and the environment that produce unwanted products. Such environments may be acids, bases, oxygen in air, oxygen in water, or other chemicals. This unwanted product is rust.

Ø  Plants wither, dry and die

Soluble acid rain along with nutrients in the soil will sweep the nutrients in the soil before the plants could use it to grow. Toxic chemicals such as aluminum will also be released and mixed with nutrients. If these nutrients are absorbed by plants will inhibit the growth and accelerate the leaves fall, then the plant will be attacked by disease, drought, and die 4. Damaging aquatic ecosystems. Acid rain falling on the lake will increase the acidity of the lake. The increased acidity of the lake causes some species of aquatic biota to die because they are unable to survive in acidic environments. Although there are some species that can survive but because the food chain is disturbed then the species can experience death as well.