Acid Rain

Acid rain (or acid precipitation because it includes fog, snow and hail) is caused by the pollutants that end up in the atmosphere from vehicle exhausts and large industrial plants. Distilled water usually has a pH of 7 which is neutral, pH readings bigger than this are alkaline (Baking soda is pH 10) but readings that are smaller are acidic (Lemon juice is pH 2).

 

 

 

The fumes containing Sulphur Dioxide and Nitrogen Oxides rise to the atmosphere where they react and become weak sulphuric acid , ammonium nitrate and nitric acid which then come back down to Earth in the rain. This acidic rain is gradually wearing away our historic stone buildings and harming the trees and plants. In Canada it has become a major problem as they have very little natural alkali soil to neutralise the effect of the acid rain and it is affecting their crops.