Acid Rain - Reading Comprehension Test Template printable pdf download

Acid Rain

Name ___________________

What is acid rain?

Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain is a type of acid deposition, which

can appear in many forms. Wet deposition is rain, sleet, snow, or fog that has become more acidic than normal. Dry

deposition is another form of acid deposition, and this is when gases and dust particles become acidic. Both wet and

dry deposition can be carried by the wind, sometimes for very long distances. Acid deposition in wet and dry forms falls

on buildings, cars, and trees and can make lakes acidic. Acid deposition in dry form can be inhaled by people and can

cause health problems in some people.

What is acidity? Acidic and basic are two ways that we describe chemical compounds. Acidity is measured using a pH

scale. A pH scale runs from zero (the most acidic) to 14 (the most basic or alkaline). A substance that is neither basic nor

acidic is called "neutral", and this has a pH of 7.

Sources of Acid Rain Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and

nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and

react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and

nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be carried very far by the wind. As a result, the two compounds

can travel long distances where they become part of the rain, sleet, snow, and fog that we experience on certain days.

Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have released so many different

chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants release the majority of

sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In

addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These

pollutants cause acid rain.

Acid Rain is Caused by Reactions in the Environment Nature depends on balance, and although some rain is naturally

acidic, with a pH level of around 5.0, human activities have made it worse. Normal precipitation—such as rain, sleet, or

snow—reacts with alkaline chemicals, or non‐acidic materials, that can be found in air, soils, bedrock, lakes, and

streams. These reactions usually neutralize natural acids. However, if precipitation becomes too acidic, these materials

may not be able to neutralize all of the acids. Over time, these neutralizing materials can be washed away by acid rain.

Damage to crops, trees, lakes, rivers, and animals can result.

Acid Rain Can Cause Health Problems in People Air pollution like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause

respiratory diseases, or can make these diseases worse. Respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic bronchitis make it

hard for people to breathe. The pollution that causes acid rain can also create tiny particles. When these particles get

into people’s lungs, they can cause health problems, or can make existing health problems worse. Also, nitrogen oxides

cause ground‐level ozone. This ground‐level ozone causes respiratory problems, like pneumonia and bronchitis, and can

even cause permanent lung damage. The health effects that people have to worry about are not caused by the acid

rain, but are caused when people breathe in these tiny particles or ozone. Swimming in an acidic lake or walking in an

acidic puddle is no more harmful to people than swimming or walking in clean water.

Acid Rain Harms Forests Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve

nutrients, such as magnesium and calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminum to be released

into the soil, which makes it difficult for trees to take up water. Trees that are located in mountainous regions at higher

elevations, such as spruce or fir trees, are at greater risk because they are exposed to acidic clouds and fog, which

contain greater amounts of acid than rain or snow. The acidic clouds and fog strip important nutrients from their leaves

and needles. This loss of nutrients makes it easier for infections, insects, and cold weather to damage trees and forests.

Acid Rain Damages Lakes and Streams Without pollution or acid rain, most lakes and streams would have a pH level

near 6.5. Acid rain, however, has caused many lakes and streams in the northeast United States and certain other

places to have much lower pH levels. In addition, aluminum that is released into the soil eventually ends up in lakes and

streams. Unfortunately, this increase in acidity and aluminum levels can be deadly to aquatic wildlife, including

phytoplankton, mayflies, rainbow trout, small mouth bass, frogs, spotted salamanders, crayfish, and other creatures

that are part of the food web.

Acid Rain - Reading Comprehension Test Template

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