Question

What is the pH of acid rain?
A. 5.8
B. 5.5
C. 4.2
D. 3.8

Answer 1

Hint: The concept of pH was first introduced by the Danish chemist Soren Peder Lauritz Sorensen at the Carlsberg. pH stands for “power of hydrogen” which means pH is the measurement of hydrogen ion concentration in a liquid solution. This activity is directly connected to its acidic, basic and neutral characteristics.

Complete step by step answer:
Now, let us try to understand what pH scale is!
The pH is the scale used to specify how acidic or basic a water based solution is. Acidic solutions have a lower pH, while basic solutions have a higher pH, at room temperature , pure water is neither acidic nor basic and has a pH of 7. pH is the measure of hydrogen ion concentration in water based solution. Very strong acids might have a negative pH, while very strong bases might have a pH greater than 14.

Let us see how pH is measured!
pH measurements can be made using litmus paper. Most of the indicators and pH papers are useful only to tell whether a substance is acid or base. A universal indicator is a mixture of indicator solutions intended to provide a color change over a pH range of 2 to 10. More accurate measurements are made using primary standards to calibrate a glass electrode and pH meter. An example of a standard electrode is silver chloride.

Let us know about acid rain!
Acid rain or acid deposition is a broad term that includes any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric acid or nitric acid that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms. This can include rain, snow, fog or even dust that is acidic. Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents.

Generally, normal rain has a pH value between 5.0 and 5.5, which is slightly acidic. However when rain combines with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides produced from power plants and automobiles-the rain becomes much more acidic. Typically acid rain has a pH value of 4.0.

Note: A great way to reduce acid rain is to produce energy without using fossil fuels. Instead, people can use renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power. In addition to this, aquatic life is badly affected, as it forms toxic substances in water resources.