Question

What are the causes of acid precipitation and acid mine drainage? Write down the important chemical reactions involved in these two problems with some brief explanations. Discuss the similarities and differences of the environmental damages caused by acid precipitation and acid mine drainage.

Answer 1

Causes of acid precipitation -manmade - human activities that emits excessive amount sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides to the atmosphere and such activities are - 1)combustion of coal and oil, to generate power.

2)automobile industry, power plant, and manufacturing industry. Natural causes - 1 ) lighting, vegetation decaying and volcanic eruption

Reaction -1) SO_{2   ^O2}------> H₂SO4 , 2)   NO_{2 ------>} HNO₃

_{involved oxidation and reactions of natural NH3}

_{Acid mine drainage - causes - 1 ) weathering of sulphide minerals , 2)coal stock. 3) oxidation of pyrite}

Reaction - , Fes_{2 +}O₂ + H₂O----->Fe2 + So₄ +H

oxidation of sulphide to sulphate

damages similarities- 1 ) polluted surface water , decaying of vegetation, Trace of metal, semi metal contamination in human and animal body , less diversity in water body , less biomass, fish diversity threatening,

Damage differences- acid precipitation affect large area than acid mine drainage,

acid precipitation most affect diversity of forest vegetation Species,animal then acid mine drainage