Acid Rain Term Papers

Order a custom written Acid Rain term paper today...

Acid rain has been a threat to the world’s ecosystems since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution when machines and industry began spewing out acidic pollution into our atmosphere. However, only in the past few decades has the problem of acidic precipitation fallout been known and studied. The acid rain situation received top billing with environmentalist and politicians throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. As a result, laws were passed regulating emissions and the public in general was made aware of the acid rain threat through the media.

   Now, in the third year of the twenty-first century, the question presents itself; what is the status quo on the acid rain problem? This report shall attempt to address that question as well as generally define what acid rain is, where is it found, and what effects acidic fallout has upon earth’s water, trees, plants, animals (to include humans), and man-made structures. Finally, this report shall also take a look at the progress or lack of progress being made upon the acid rain situation as well as prospects for the future.   

    What, exactly, is acid rain? In simple terms, acid is any substance that releases hydrogen ions from another substance in a given solution – thus altering that substance’s pH (power of hydrogen). Acid rain is, “...rain [that] becomes more acidic when it reacts with chemicals in air pollution, in particular atmospheric compounds created from sulphur and nitrogen belched from factories, power stations and vehicles” . More precisely, acid rain is produced when “... sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides react in the atmosphere to form acidic compounds” When this happens, snow, fog, and rain become a mildly acidic solution of nitric acid and sulfuric acids.

    Even unpolluted rain, with an average pH of 5.6, is slightly acidic (pH of 7 being neutral). However, the earth can neutralize (buffer) the slight acidic qualities of normal rainfall through alkaline chemicals found in rocks and soil. Rain that has become increasingly acidic, through atmospheric pollutants, places a strain upon the earth’s pH buffering system. After years of exposure to acid rain, the buffering system and natural ecological balance breaks down causing acidic problems in the soil and water and, inevitably, all forms of life that depend upon the earth’s soil and water.   

    One main aspect of acid rain is its tendency to travel. Sulfuric and nitric acids, emitted from factories and automobiles, born up into the air, caught and absorbed by the atmospheric water, is then carried by the wind. 

Order your custom Acid Rain Science term papers today...Place Order Here!

Custom Acid Rain Term Papers

Term Papers are custom written on Acid Rain at Paper Masters. Acid Rain term paper due tomorrow? This SAMPLE term paper on Acid Rain is just a suggestion. Since all term papers are custom written, you tell us the exact criteria of your term paper on Acid Rain and we assign one of our professional academic term paper writers to the project. Also, you tell us the due date of when you need your term papers and we guarantee delivery by 11:59PM EST on date! Plagiarism free term papers delivered to your e-mail on Acid Rain!