| The term 'acid rain' is commonly used to mean | | | | and other aquatic animals. At pHs lower than 5 |
| the deposition of acid component in rain, snow, | | | | most fish eggs will not hatch and lower pHs can |
| fog, dew, or dry particles. They are the result of | | | | kill adult fish. As lakes become more acidic |
| air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots | | | | biodiversity is reduced. Acid rain has eliminated |
| of different chemicals are produced. The smoke | | | | insect life and some fish species. |
| that comes from a fire or the fumes that come | | | | Soil biology can also be seriously damaged by acid |
| out of a car exhaust don't just contain the sooty | | | | rain. Some tropical microbes can quickly consume |
| grey particles that you can see - they also | | | | acids but other microbes are unable to tolerate |
| contains lots of invisible gases. Some of these | | | | low pHs and are killed. The hydronium ions of acid |
| gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur | | | | rain also mobilize toxins and leach away essential |
| dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in | | | | nutrients and minerals of the soil. The effects of |
| clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids. The rain | | | | acid rain can last for generations, as the effects |
| from these clouds then falls as very weak acid - | | | | of pH level change can stimulate the continued |
| which is why it is known as "acid rain". | | | | leaching of undesirable chemicals into otherwise |
| Acid rain has an adverse effect on forest, | | | | pristine water sources, killing off vulnerable insect |
| freshwater and soil, killing off insects and aquatic | | | | and fish species and blocking efforts to restore |
| life forms as well as causing damage to building | | | | native life. |
| and having possible impact on human health. | | | | On human health, acid rain have been shown to |
| It is thought that acid rain can cause tree to grow | | | | cause illness and premature deaths. Acid rain can |
| more slowly or even to die. As it falls on a forest | | | | also cause damage to certain building materials |
| it trickles through the leaves of the trees and run | | | | and historical monuments. Acid rain can cause |
| down into the soil below. Some of it find its way | | | | weathering on ancient and valuable statues and |
| into streams and then on into the river and lakes, | | | | has caused considerable damage. This is because |
| thus effecting its creatures. | | | | the sulfuric acid in the rain chemically reacts with |
| On other hand acid rain can affect trees by | | | | the calcium compounds in the stones (limestone, |
| dissolving and washing way the nutrients and | | | | sandstone, marble and granite) to create gypsum, |
| minerals in the soil which help in their growth. It is | | | | which then flakes off. This is also commonly seen |
| one of the major causes of the release of | | | | on old gravestones where the acid rain can cause |
| harmful substances such as aluminum into the soil. | | | | the inscription to become completely illegible. Acid |
| Somewhere, acid rain wear away the waxy | | | | rain also causes an increased rate of oxidation for |
| protective coating of leaves, damaging them and | | | | iron. Visibility is also reduced by sulfate and nitrate |
| preventing them from being able to | | | | in the atmosphere. |
| photosynthesize properly. | | | | REPRINT RIGHTS statement: This article is free |
| On lakes and river water, acid rain has a diverse | | | | for republishing by visitors provided the Author |
| effect. Both the lower Ph and higher aluminum | | | | Bio box is retained as usual so that all links are |
| concentration in the surface water that occur as | | | | Active/Linkable with no syntax changes. |
| a result of the acid rain can cause damage to fish | | | | |