Hritik tested rainwater and found a pH of 5-6 due to presence of H+ ions formed by reaction of rainwater with carbon dioxide. When pH of the rainwater drops below 5-6, then it is called acid rain. Oxides of nitrogen and sulphur are acidic in nature. Burning of fossil fuels such as coal and oil in power stations and furnace produce oxides of nitrogen and sulphur. He told all of his classmates living nearby to use bicycle instead of school bus so as to reduce air pollution and prevent acid rain.
(a) Which acid is formed by sulphur dioxide in presence of air?
(b) Which acid is formed by nitrogen dioxide in presence of air?
(c) Why is acid rain harmful for agriculture, trees and plants?
(d) How can we prevent from acid rain?
(e) What values are possessed by Hiritik?
a. Sulfuric acid, sulphurous acids are formed by sulphur dioxide in presence of air.
b. Nitric acid is formed by nitrogen dioxide in presence of air.
c. Plants, agricultural crops and trees require an optimum pH for their survival. Due to acid rain, the pH balance of the soil is disturbed and the soil becomes more acidic. This acidic nature of the soil is very much harmful to the healthy growth of plants, agricultural crops and trees. In this way, acid rain is harmful to agriculture, trees and plants.
d. We can prevent acid rain by controlling pollution, by controlling the rate of consumption and burning of fossil fuels such as coal and petroleum oil, by controlling automobile combustion, reducing the burning of wastes, filtering out particulate matters emitted from the industries, using cleaner fuels like CNG in the automobiles and start using renewable sources of energy like solar energy, wind energy, tidal energy etc for electricity generation.
e. Hritik possesses the value of social responsibility. He is very much concerned for his environment and the health of the society as a whole.