HELP! OUR COMPANY IS UNDER THREAT!
There are many people out there who have concerns about the effects of acid rain and many scientists around the world are engineering new ways to prevent and cure acid rain effects. This will destroy all our tourism and business opportunities! Below is information concerning these threats to our livelihood.
Preventing Acid RaIN
Preventing acid rain from the source involves reducing the amount of sulfur dioxide produced by large industrial plants. This can be done by the burning of low-sulfur coal or the complete switch to other forms of fuel such as natural gas, oil and renewable engery sources. Fluidised-bed Combustion (FBC) is a process which power plants can use to suspend solid fuels in upward-blowing streams of air during the combustion process - thus mixing gas and solids, the turbulent action of which helpes catalyse chemical reactions to be more effective.
Things people may do at home to reduce the acidic emissions are simple things such as conserving electricity, walking instead of driving to reduce exhaust fumes.
Things people may do at home to reduce the acidic emissions are simple things such as conserving electricity, walking instead of driving to reduce exhaust fumes.
Curing Acid Rain
The effects of acid rain on ecosystems can take decades, even centuries to put right; however steps and measures may be taken to help air, soils and bodies of water back to health. A costly, but friendly way of helpign restore balance to water systems is by adding limestone. This process of liming acts as a neutraliser against the acid. Unfortunately this is seen only as a short-term medicine as it does not solve problems of forest health, visability reductions, risks to human health and soil chemistry. Deep soils have a great ability to reatin sulfate and nitrate ions.
Limestone Neutralization:
The sulfuric acid reacts with the limestone in a neutralization reaction.
CaCO3 + H2SO4 --> CaSO4 + H2CO3
The calcium sulfate is soluble in water and hence the limestone dissolves and crumbles.
H2CO3 --> CO2 gas + H2O
The original acid (hydrogen ions) have been converted to water in these reactions.
Limestone Neutralization:
The sulfuric acid reacts with the limestone in a neutralization reaction.
CaCO3 + H2SO4 --> CaSO4 + H2CO3
The calcium sulfate is soluble in water and hence the limestone dissolves and crumbles.
H2CO3 --> CO2 gas + H2O
The original acid (hydrogen ions) have been converted to water in these reactions.