Question

Acid rains are also witnessed in our State in Visakhapatnam district. Can you guess the reason for acid rain in Visakhapatnam?

Answer 1

Acid rain is mainly caused due to pollutants released in air like Sulphur dioxide ,nitrogen dioxide ,  Carbon dioxide etc.

These substances can rise high in atmosphere , where they react with oxygen, and water they form respective acids. These acids if they mix with rain water then it is called as Acid rain.

For example ---- SO2 +H2O ---->H2SO3[SULPHUROUS ACID]
CO2+H2O------>H2CO3[CARBONIC ACID]

The main reason for Acid Rain is Human activities like dependency on fuels like petrol, diesel,
Release of Harmful pollutants into air and water lead to pollution.
Use of fossil fuel like coal to produce electricity.
Exhaust from vehicles release harmful products like NO2 and SO2 which causes acid rain.

Answer 2

Vishakhapatnam is studded with major industries such as Hindustan Zinc Limited, Coromandel Fertilizers Ltd., Hindustan Fertilizers Corporation Ltd., Bharat Heavy Plates and Vessels to name a few. Combustion of large quantities of chemicals in these factories sends pipes of smoke in the air.   Around two hundred additional industrial units rose to provide for the main industries which turned the central basin of Vishakhapatnam into an air-polluting chimney. Besides, wash-out of Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxide is released due to vehicular traffic and fuel combustion. Altogether, it increases the acidic component in the air as ph of rain water is decreased from 6 to 3 where decrease in ph value of water results in ten-fold increase in the acidity. Hence, the decrease in the ph by three causes increase in acidity by thousand times, i.e. 10 x 10 x 10.