Sulphur and nitrogen oxides pollute the environment in both wet and dry depositions. Dry depositions usually affect close to the source. Wet depositions turn the atmospheric water vapor to acid. They are carried thousands of kilometers away from the source by air currents.
When sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides rise into the air they dissolve into clouds and form acids. Then they fall back to earth as acid rain. This rain corrodes metal railings and stonework on buildings. Even unpolluted rain is acid because of the presence of carbon dioxide gas in the air. This gas dissolves with water to form carbonic acid. It has a pH of 5.6 (pure water has a pH of 7.0).
Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen emitted from the burning of fossil fuels form sulphuric and nitric acid. The pH level of these acids is around 4.0. The primary sources of these gases are power stations, industrial boilers and vehicles. Oxides of nitrogen are released mainly from vehicles without catalytic converters.
These gases start causing pollution as soon as they are formed. Sulphur dioxide damages the leaves and prevents chlorophyll formation. It forms as acid vapor in the lungs and aggravates diseases such as bronchitis. It causes stones on building to crumble and metal work to be dissolved.
When sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides rise into the air they dissolve into clouds and form acids. Then they fall back to earth as acid rain. This rain corrodes metal railings and stonework on buildings. Even unpolluted rain is acid because of the presence of carbon dioxide gas in the air. This gas dissolves with water to form carbonic acid. It has a pH of 5.6 (pure water has a pH of 7.0).
Oxides of sulphur and nitrogen emitted from the burning of fossil fuels form sulphuric and nitric acid. The pH level of these acids is around 4.0. The primary sources of these gases are power stations, industrial boilers and vehicles. Oxides of nitrogen are released mainly from vehicles without catalytic converters.
These gases start causing pollution as soon as they are formed. Sulphur dioxide damages the leaves and prevents chlorophyll formation. It forms as acid vapor in the lungs and aggravates diseases such as bronchitis. It causes stones on building to crumble and metal work to be dissolved.
