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This compound causes rainfall pH to be around 5.0–5.5. When rainfall has a lower pH than natural levels, it can cause rapid acidification of soil. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are precursors of stronger acids that can lead to acid rain production when they react with water in the atmosphere
Acid rain is rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic, meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions (low pH).Most water, including drinking water, has a neutral pH that exists between 6.5 and 8.5, but acid rain has a pH level lower than this and ranges from 4–5 on average.
Volcanic activity can release sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and other acidic oxides into the atmosphere. [8] In air, sulfur dioxide converts to sulfuric acid: [9] This sulfuric acid dissociates into sulfate ions (SO₄²⁻) and hydrogen ions (H⁺), increasing the acidic condition. SO 2 + ½ O 2 + H 2 O → H 2 SO 4; H 2 SO 4 → 2H⁺ + SO 4 2 ⁻
Then, using the initial soil pH and the aluminium content, the amount of lime needed to raise the pH to a desired level can be calculated. [68] Amendments other than agricultural lime that can be used to increase the pH of soil include wood ash, industrial calcium oxide , magnesium oxide, basic slag (calcium silicate), and oyster shells.
Consequently, acid sulfate soil samples should be immediately cooled to < 4°C to slow oxidation; and samples containing monosulfidic material should be immediately frozen (e.g., using a portable freezer or liquid nitrogen). [31] The use of dry ice is recommended as the gaseous carbon dioxide should further hinder oxidation.
Heating at higher temperatures results in decomposition into ammonia, nitrogen, sulfur dioxide, and water. [17] As a salt of a strong acid (H 2 SO 4) and weak base (NH 3), its solution is acidic; the pH of 0.1 M solution is 5.5. In aqueous solution the reactions are those of NH + 4 and SO 2−
Many acid rock discharges also contain elevated levels of potentially toxic metals, especially nickel and copper with lower levels of a range of trace and semi-metal ions such as lead, arsenic, aluminium, and manganese. The elevated levels of heavy metals can only be dissolved in waters that have a low pH, as is found in the acidic waters ...
Soil pH is a function of many soil forming factors, and is generally lower (more acidic) where weathering is more advanced. [ 43 ] Most plant nutrients, with the exception of nitrogen , originate from the minerals that make up the soil parent material.