Acid rain is a type of rain or any other form of precipitation that has a higher level of acidity than normal rainfall. It occurs when emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) into the atmosphere react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid.
These acidic substances then mix with rain, snow, fog, or any other form of precipitation, which lowers the pH level of the water. Generally, rainfall is considered acid rain if it has a pH value of less than 5.6, which is slightly acidic compared to the neutral pH of 7.
Acid rain can cause negative environmental impacts as it can harm plants, trees, crops, and aquatic life. It damages the leaves of plants and trees, inhibits their ability to grow and reproduce, and weakens their overall health. Acid rain can also contaminate bodies of water, making it difficult for fish and other aquatic organisms to survive.
The main sources of the pollutants responsible for acid rain are human activities such as burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) to generate electricity, industrial processes, and transportation. These activities release large amounts of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide into the atmosphere, which can be transported over long distances by wind patterns, leading to the widespread impact of acid rain.
What is acid rain
1 answer
1 answer