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