What Is Acid Rain?

What is acid rain?
Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by certain pollutants in the air. Acid rain is a type of acid deposition, which
can appear in many forms. Wet deposition is rain, sleet, snow, or fog that has become more acidic than normal. Dry
deposition is another form of acid deposition, and this is when gases and dust particles become acidic. Both wet and
dry deposition can be carried by the wind, sometimes for very long distances. Acid deposition in wet and dry forms
falls on buildings, cars, and trees and can make lakes acidic. Acid deposition in dry form can be inhaled by people
and can cause health problems in some people.
What is acidity?
Acidic and basic are two ways that we describe chemical compounds. Acidity is measured using a pH scale. A pH
scale runs from zero (the most acidic) to 14 (the most basic or alkaline). A substance that is neither basic or acidic is
called "neutral", and this has a pH of 7.
Sources of Acid Rain

Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are
released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water,
oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
dissolve very easily in water and can be carried very far by the wind. As a result, the two compounds can travel long
distances where they become part of the rain, sleet, snow, and fog that we experience on certain days.
Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have released so many
different chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere. Power plants release the
majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce
electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the
air. These pollutants cause acid rain.
Acid Rain is Caused by Reactions in the Environment

Nature depends on balance, and although some rain is naturally acidic, with a pH level of around 5.0, human
activities have made it worse. Normal precipitation—such as rain, sleet, or snow—reacts with alkaline chemicals, or
non-acidic materials, that can be found in air, soils, bedrock, lakes, and streams. These reactions usually neutralize
natural acids. However, if precipitation becomes too acidic, these materials may not be able to neutralize all of the
acids. Over time, these neutralizing materials can be washed away by acid rain. Damage to crops, trees, lakes,
rivers, and animals can result.
Acid Rain Can Cause Health Problems in People

Air pollution like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides can cause respiratory diseases, or can make these diseases
worse. Respiratory diseases like asthma or chronic bronchitis make it hard for people to breathe. The pollution that
causes acid rain can also create tiny particles. When these particles get into people’s lungs, they can cause health
problems, or can make existing health problems worse. Also, nitrogen oxides cause ground-level ozone. This ground-
level ozone causes respiratory problems, like pneumonia and bronchitis, and can even cause permanent lung
damage. The health effects that people have to worry about are not caused by the acid rain, but are caused when
people breathe in these tiny particles or ozone. Swimming in an acidic lake or walking in an acidic puddle is no more
harmful to people than swimming or walking in clean water.
Acid Rain Harms Forests

Acid rain can be extremely harmful to forests. Acid rain that seeps into the ground can dissolve nutrients, such as
magnesium and calcium, that trees need to be healthy. Acid rain also causes aluminum to be released into the soil,
which makes it difficult for trees to take up water. Trees that are located in mountainous regions at higher elevations,
such as spruce or fir trees, are at greater risk because they are exposed to acidic clouds and fog, which contain
greater amounts of acid than rain or snow. The acidic clouds and fog strip important nutrients from their leaves and
needles. This loss of nutrients makes it easier for infections, insects, and cold weather to damage trees and forests.
Acid Rain Damages Lakes and Streams

Without pollution or acid rain, most lakes and streams would have a pH level near 6.5. Acid rain, however, has
caused many lakes and streams in the northeast United States and certain other places to have much lower pH
levels. In addition, aluminum that is released into the soil eventually ends up in lakes and streams. Unfortunately, this
increase in acidity and aluminum levels can be deadly to aquatic wildlife, including phytoplankton, mayflies, rainbow
trout, small mouth bass, frogs, spotted salamanders, crayfish, and other creatures that are part of the food web.
This problem can become much worse during heavy downpours of rain or when the snow begins to melt in the
spring. These types of events are known as episodic acidification.
Acid Rain Damages Buildings and Objects

Acid rain can also have a damaging effect on many objects, including buildings, statues, monuments, and cars. The
chemicals found in acid rain can cause paint to peel and stone statues to begin to appear old and worn down, which
reduces their value and beauty.

What Is Acid Rain?

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What Is Acid Rain?

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What is acid rain?

Sources of Acid Rain

Acid Rain is Caused by Reactions in the Environment

Acid Rain Can Cause Health Problems in People

Acid Rain Harms Forests

Acid Rain Damages Lakes and Streams

Acid Rain Damages Buildings and Objects

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