Acid rain

Acid rain is defined as rain with a pH of below 5.6. Normal rain has a pH of slightly under 6, which is slightly acidic. This natural acidity is caused by dissolved carbon dioxide dissociating to form weak carbonic acid. 'Acid rain' is caused by sulfur from impurities in fossil fuels and nitrogen from the air combining with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These diffuse into the atmosphere and react with water to form sulfuric and nitric acids which are soluble and fall with the rain. Some hydrochloric acid is also formed. The resulting increased acidity in soil and waterways has proven to be harmful to fish and vegetation. Efforts to combat this phenomenon are ongoing.

Related Topics:
PH - Acid - Carbonic acid - Sulfur - Fossil fuels - Nitrogen - Oxygen - Sulfur dioxide - Nitrogen oxide - Sulfuric - Nitric acid - Hydrochloric acid - Soil - Waterway - Fish - Vegetation

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