Rehabilitating+Lakes+=+Alexander+Chiu

In our society today, we out starting to see how the choices we make in our lives affect the world around us. With all the harmful chemicals and consumption the fossil fuels in our everyday lives, we are starting see that it’s taking a toll on the environment. One of the ways our environment is being affect is in our lakes. The Ph levels of the lakes are decreasing due to acid rain thus making them more acidic. Fortunately the lakes have many means of restoring itself to its more healthy form through natural means and artificial with the help of people. __What is the concern?__ The concern is that due to the acid rain caused by the pollution created by human, the environment is being destroyed. In particular for lakes, the acid rain causes the pH level of the water in the lakes to drop below for. As a result the water in the lakes becomes very acidic and this affects the animals that live in the lakes. This is can have a devastating effect on the eco system due to the fact that if the water becomes too acidic, certain species who have made the lake their home will no longer be able to survive in the conditions of the lakes and the ones who are able too might have a harder time living. The population and the biodiversity of the lake will see a decline. Figure 1 Acid Rain Cycle __What is Acid Rain?__ While know acid rain is the cause of the rising pH level in lakes, what is it exactly? Acid rain (HNO3 or H2SO4) is a form of highly acid precipitation. It is created when the nitrogen and sulphur oxides combine with the oxygen and moisture in the atmosphere to create acids that will fall back down onto the ground in the form of precipitation. Most of these nitrogen and sulphur oxides are created from the result of humans burning fossil fuel to power things such as cars. This is why it’s important that we as a society should become more environmentally conscious to ensure that we can reduce the amount of pollution we create in order to protect the habitats of the animals that live in the wild. __How the Lakes Naturally Rehabilitate Itself__ While it may seem grim for the fate of lakes due to acid precipitation, the lakes have some form of protection in the form of limestone. Limestone (CaCO3) helps reverse the effects of acid rain on the waters of the lakes by neutralizing the acid. In this reaction a double displacement occurs: CaCO3 + HNO3 à Ca (NO3)2 + H2O + CO2 In this displacement it results in the creation of calcium nitrate along with carbonic acid which quickly breaks down into water and carbon dioxide due to being unstable.
 * Rehabilitating Lakes**

Figure 2. These fish shown could not withstand the acidity of the lakes water
 * Figure 3 Acid rain damaged the forest ||

__How Can People Help Rehabilitate Our Lakes__ We too can also help save our lakes from the pollution of acid rains. There are many things we can do to help contribute to healthier lakes. Firstly there are many programs in that help protect the lakes by doing things such as flying planes over the lakes to distribute limestone in them to help neutralize the lakes. Many countries also have regulations to control the amount of emissions and harmful gases that are coming from the factories. Many companies have also made it mandatory to install things that help reduce the amount of gases being emitted in their factories by installing things such as scrubbers. The government and companies are not the only ones that can help contribute to a healthier environment. We as consumers also have the power to control how our energy is being spent. By being more conscious of the environment and reducing the use of products that use fossil fuel and using things such as hybrid cars instead, we can send a message to the companies that we will not stand by and see our environment get destroyed and that we want to see more environmentally friendly products be made.

Figure 4 Plane flying over to place limestone in lakes

media type="youtube" key="HE6Y0iEuXMQ" height="315" width="420" For more info please watch the video above!

__Review__ Metallurgy = Keasha Grant Mining = Fathima.B Super Glue = Erica Francis
 * It’s the study of physical and chemical properties of metals
 * Typically the industries involved with metallurgy are harmful to the environment due to the emissions created in processing the metals
 * Environmental problem can be resolved by capturing the sulphur dioxide created and converting it to sulphuric acid which is then stored and disposed of safely
 * Mining is the process of extracting minerals from the earth that can non me man-made
 * Has a negative impact on the environment due to the fact it destroys the habitats of animals
 * Has negative effect on people due to the possible leaching of toxic waste from mining into the water system
 * Scientific name is Cyanoacrylate (C5H5NO2 )and uses water to form a durable chain in which the strong bond of glue comes from
 * Discovered by Harry Coover who was trying to make a clear plastic sight lens
 * Can be removed with acetone

Bibibliography Burgess, Robert L. "Acid Rain." //Encyclopedia Americana.// Grolier Online, 2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. Nisbet, Ian. "Acid Rain." //The New Book of Popular Science.// Grolier Online, 2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. "Acid Rain." //Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia.// Grolier Online, 2011. Web. 9 Nov. 2011. "Acid Rain Solutions." //Elmhurst College: Elmhurst, Illinois//. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. [|http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/197acidrainsoln.html] "Effects of Acid Rain: Lakes & Streams." //D. W. Brooks Site//. 20 Dec. 2000. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. . __Images__ Acid Rain Cycle. Digital image. Web. . Digital image. Web. [] Digital image. http://bonjupatten.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/acid-rain-trees.jpg . Web. Digital image.http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_rpbqU7ANUfQ/TSPkv2EA4tI/AAAAAAAAADo/uoocmBRSoJk/s1600/untitled3.bmp . Web.

__Video__ //Coal Combustion and Acid Rain - YouTube//. //YouTube - Broadcast Yourself.// 22 May 2009. Web. 09 Nov. 2011. [].