The Acidic Environment > 2. Acidic Oxides >
Explain the formation and effects of acid rain
- Rain is normally slightly acidic (pH between 5 and 6) due to the formation of carbonic acid from carbon dioxide.
- Acid rain: Rain that has a higher hydrogen ion concentration than normal (pH less than 5).
- Other than carbonic acid, the acids generally present in acid rain are sulfuric and nitric acids, which are formed by sulfur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen respectively.
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Formation of Acid Rain
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Two Examples of Acid Rain Damage
- The effects of acid rain include:
- Increased acidity of lakes, which leads to decreased populations of many aquatic species, including fish, whose eggs will not hatch in acidic conditions.
- Damage and loss of plant leaves, which leads to damage to forest trees, such as in many pine forests in Europe and North America.
- Chemical weathering and erosion of stone buildings and structures, which contain carbonates that react with the acids, as well as metal structures.
- Damage to soils due to the dissolving of minerals by the acid rain and the release of toxic levels of heavy metals.