NOTE: Free essay sample provided on this page should be used for references or sample purposes only. The sample essay is available to anyone, so any direct quoting without mentioning the source will be considered plagiarism by schools, colleges and universities that use plagiarism detection software. To get a completely brand-new, plagiarism-free essay, please use our essay writing service.
One click instant price quote
... s the fish can no longer breath. It dies and then sinks to the bottom of the lake. [ 4 ] Scientists now see acid, aluminum and shortages of calcium as the three determining factors in the extinction of fish. [ 5 ] As well there is the problem of chlorine. In many parts of the world it is commonly found in the soil.
If it enters the fish's environment it can be deadly. It affects many of the fish's organisms and causes it to die. As well it interferes in the photosynthesis process in plants. NaOH + HCl gt; NaCl + H 2 O The carbon in the water can become very dangerous for fish and plants in the water if the following reaction happens: CaCO 3 + 2 HCl -- -> CaCl 2 + H 2 CO 3 then H 2 CO 3 -- -> H 2 O + CO 2 The salt created by this reaction can kill. It interferes directly with the fish's nervous system. Acid lakes are deceivingly beautiful.
The are crystal clear and have a luscious carpet of green algae on the bottom. The reason that these lakes are so clear is because many of the decomposer's are dead. They cannot break down that material such as leaves and dead animals. These materials eventually sink to the bottom instead of going through the natural process of decomposition. In acid lakes decomposition is very slow. 'The whole metabolism of the lake is slowed down. '[ 6 ] During this same period of time the Canadian department of fisheries spent eight years dumping sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4) into an Ontario lake to see the effects of the decrease in the PH over a number of years. At the PH of 5. 9 the first organisms began to disappear.
They were shrimps. They started out at a population of about seven million, but at the pH of 5. 9 they were totally wiped out. Within a year the minnow died because it could no longer reproduce it's self. At this time the pH was of 5. 8. New trout were failing to be produced because many smaller organisms that served as food to it had been wiped out earlier. With not enough food the older fish did not have the energy to reproduce.
Upon reaching the pH of 5. 1 it was noted that the trout became cannibals. It is believed this is due to the fact that the minnow was nearly extinct. At a pH of 5. 6 the external skeletons of crayfish softened and they were soon infected with parasites, and there eggs were destroyed by fungi. When the pH went down to 5. 1 they were almost gone. By the end of the experiment none of the major species had survived the trials of the acid. The next experiment conducted by the scientists was to try and bring the lake back to life.
They cut in half the amount of acid that they dumped to simulate a large scale cleanup. Soon again the cutters and minnows began to reproduce again. The lake eventually did come back; to a certain extent; back to life. THE NEW THEORY: A scientist in Norway had a problem believing that it was the acid rain on it's own that was affecting the lakes in such a deadly way. This scientist was Dr Rosenqvist. 'Why is it that during heavy rain, the swollen rivers can be up to fifteen times more acid than the rain? It cannot be the rain alone that is doing it, can it?' [ 7 ] Many scientist shunned him for this however they could not come up with a better answer.
Soon the scientists were forced to accept this theory. Sulfuric acid is composed of two parts, know as ions. The hydrogen ion is what make a substance acid. The other ion is sulphate. When there are more hydrogen ions then a substance is acid. It is this sulphate ion that we are interested in.
When the rain causes rivers to overboard onto the banks the river water passes through the soil. Since the industrial revolution in britain there has been an increasing amount of sulphur in the soil. In the river there is not enough sulphur for the acid to react in great quantities. However in the soil there is a great collection of sulphur to aid the reaction. When it joins the water the pH becomes much lower. This is the most deadly effect of acid rain on our water! ! !
The water itself does not contain enough sulphur to kill off it's population of fish and plants. But with the sulphur in the soil it does. CONCLUSION: Acid rain is a big problem. It causes the death of our lakes, our rivers, our wild life and most importantly us. As well it causes other problems that are very serious as well such as the release of aluminium and lead into our water supplies. We are suffering because of it.
In Scotland there are many birth defects being attributed to it. We must cut down the releases of chemicals that cause it. But it will take time, even if we were to stop today we would have the problem for years to come because of the build up in the soil. Let's hope we can do something. BIBLIOGRAPHY Penguin Publishing House, 1987, Pearce Fred Acid Rain. What is it and what is it doing to us?
New York Publishers, 1989, William Stone Acid Rain. Fiend or Foe? Lucent books, Inc. 1990, Steward Gail Acid Rain. [ 1 ] Acid Lake: A lake that has been severely effected by acid as to cause it to be to acid for many of it's natural animals inhabitants to live in. [ 2 ] An extinct lake is a lake that generally has a PH equal to or under 4. 2. However it does not HAVE to be exactly so. A lake is dead when it can no longer support it's natural plant and animal life. [ 3 ] Lakes and Rivers will now be called Lakes. [ 4 ] Previously mentioned fish on the bottom on the lake. This is what caused it however the scientists did not know it at the time. [ 5 ] These 3 are interrelated.
With enough Calcium there would not be Acid. Without acid there would be nothing to extract the aluminum from the soil. [ 6 ] Penguin Books Ltd. 1987 Pearce, Fred 'Acid rain. What is it and what is it doing to us?' P 65 L 39 [ 7 ] Quote: Dr. Rosenqvist. From a speech given to Norway's scientific community in the late 19 th century.
Free research essays on topics related to: back to life, sulfuric acid, h 2 o, ph of 5, acid rain
Research essay sample on Ph Of 5 H 2 O
