Acid Rain Bunu

DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY
KHALLIKOTE AUTONOMOUS COLLEGE, BERHAMPUR.

SEMINAR TOPIC ON
“ ACID RAIN “
GUIDED BY :- PRESENTED BY:-

DR. MANOJ KUMAR PATNAIK PRIYABRAT PRADHAN
LECTURER IN GEOLOGY. CLASS- PG 1ST YEAR
GEOLOGY.
CLASS ROLL NO.-31
CONTENTS
 Definition
 Formation
 Causes
 Effects
 Affected Areas
 Preventive Measures
 CONCLUSION
DEFINITION:-
 Rainfall made so acidic by atmospheric pollution
that it causes environmental harm, chiefly to
forests and lakes.
 It is formed when sulphur dioxides and nitrogen
oxides, as gases or fine particles in the
atmosphere, combine with water vapour and
precipitate as sulphuric acid or nitric acid in rain,
snow, or fog.
• Precipitation that has a PH of less than that of natural
rain water( which is about 5.6) due to dissolved CO2.
FORMATION:-
 When water vapour condenses, or as the rain falls, they
dissolve in the water to form sulphuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric
acid (HNO3).
 When SO2 reacts with water, sulfuric acid is formed.
SO2 (g)+H2O(l)+1/2 O2H2SO4(aq.)
 When NO2 reacts with water, nitric acid is formed.
2NO2(g)+H2O(l)-HNO2(aq)+HNO3(aq).
CAUSES:-
 Burning coal. Oil and natural
gas in power stations makes
electricity, giving off sulphur
dioxide gas.
 Burning petrol and oil in
vehicle engines gives off
nitrogen oxides as gases.
 These gases mix with water
vapour and rainwater in the
atmosphere producing weak
solutions of sulphuric and nitric
acids – which fall as acid rain.
DUE TO FOREST FIRING:-
DUE TO LIGHTNING:-
DUE TO VOLCANOES:-
Emission from vegetation
 Terrestrial vegetation produces carbon dioxide as part
of the transpiration process.
 Tropical forest emits isoprene which is a volatile
organic compound.
 This isoprene is oxidized in the troposphere and reacts
with nitrogen oxide to produce ozone, organic nitrates
an organic acids. These acids leads to the acidification
of rain water.
Effects:-
Acid rain is an extremely
destructive form of pollution,
and the environment suffers
from its effects. Forests, trees,
lakes, animals, and plants suffer
from acid rain.
Trees
The needles and leaves of the
trees turn brown and fall off.
Trees can also suffer from
stunted growth; and have
damaged bark and leaves,
which makes them vulnerable
to weather, disease, and insects.
• All of this happens
partly because of
direct contact
between trees and
acid rain, but it also
happens when trees
absorb soil that has
come into contact
with acid rain.
• The soil poisons the

tree with toxic
substances that the
rain has deposited
into it.
FOREST :-
 Forests suffer from
soil damage,
however most food
crops are
unharmed because
the nutrients lost
are replaced in
fertilizer
AQUATIC LIFE :-
Lakes are also damaged by acid
rain. Fish die off, and that
removes the main source of food
for birds. Acid rain can even kill
fish before they are born when
the eggs are laid and come into
contact with the acid.
Fish usually die only when the

acid level of a lake is high; when
the acid level is lower, they can
become sick, suffer stunted
growth, or lose their ability to
reproduce.
Also, birds can die from eating

"toxic" fish and insects.
Human Health:-
o Humans can become
seriously ill, and can even
die from the effects of acid
rain. One of the major
problems that acid rain
can cause in a human
being is respiratory
problems.
o Many can find it difficult to

breathe, especially people
who have asthma. Asthma,
along with dry coughs,
headaches, and throat
irritations can be caused
by the sulphur dioxides
and nitrogen
 Acid rain can be absorbed by
both plants (through soil
and/or direct contact) and
animals (from things they eat
and/or direct contact). When
humans eat these plants or
animals, the toxins inside of
their meals can affect them.
Brain damage, kidney
problems, and Alzheimer's
disease has been linked to
people eating "toxic"
animals/plants.
BUILDINGS:-
Acid rain dissolves the

stonework and mortar of
buildings (especially
those made out of
sandstone or limestone).
It reacts with the
minerals in the stone to
form a powdery
substance that can be
washed away by rain.
MONUMENTS:-
• Monuments made of
Calcium Carbonate
(limestone and marble)
will react with acid rain
to form Gypsum
• Increases the oxidation
rate of metals such as
copper and bronze
TRANSPORT:-
 Currently, both the
railway industry and the
aeroplane industry are
having to spend a lot of
money to repair the
corrosive damage done
by acid rain.
Also, bridges can be
collapsed due to acid
rain corrosion.
AFFECTED AREAS :-
○ Acid rain is a problem in Canada.

○ Water and soil systems lack natural
alkalinity such as lime base Cannot
neutralize acid.
○ Canada consists of susceptible hard rock
such as granite do not have the capacity to
effectively neutralize acid rain.
 Industrial acid rain is a substantial
problem in China, Eastern Europe
and Russia.
 Acid rain from power plants in the
Midwest United States has also
harmed the forests of upstate New
York and New England.
PREVENTIVE MEASURES:-
 Acid rain can be prevented by reducing
amount of sulphur dioxide and oxides of
nitrogen released into the atmosphere.
 This can be done by using cleaner fuel such as
1. Coal that contains less sulphur
2. Washing the coal to reduce sulphur content
3. Natural Gas
4. Use of other source of electricity
1. Lime or limestone (calcium
carbonate) in slurry form is
injected into the tower to mix
with the stack gases and
reacts with the sulphur
dioxide present
2. Produces pH-neutral
calcium sulphate that is
physically removed from
the scrubber
3. Sulphates can be used for
industrial purposes Scrubber at work
CONCLUSION:-
The causes and effects of acid rain are
now well understood. Fortunately the
effects have been limited and there is no
evidence to suggest that they will
become worst in the next few decades
with present emissions.

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DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGY

KHALLIKOTE AUTONOMOUS COLLEGE, BERHAMPUR.

GUIDED BY :- PRESENTED BY:-

• The soil poisons the

Fish usually die only when the

Also, birds can die from eating

o Many can find it difficult to

Acid rain dissolves the

○ Acid rain is a problem in Canada.

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