What are acids and bases?
Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a pH greater than 7 are alkaline (or basic). Rain water is slightly acidic with a pH of 5.6, while distilled water has a neutral pH of 7. This is because distilled water contains no carbon dioxide. Acidity in rain is measured by collecting samples of rain and measuring its pH. Why does rain water become acidic? The interaction between rain water and atmospheric carbon dioxide results in the formation of carbonic acid. Carbonic acid is a weak acid and does not cause much harm. The extra acidity in rain is caused when rain water reacts with air pollutants like sulfur oxides and nitrogen oxides, and form strong acids (like sulfuric and nitric acid). The main sources of these pollutants are vehicles and industrial and power-generating plants. What are the harmful effects of acid rain? Acid rain adversely affects forests, fresh waters and soils, killing insect and aquatic life. Most fish eggs will not hatch when the water has a pH les
