How does acid get in rain?
Normal rainfall is slightly acidic, with a pH of about 5.6. Rain with a pH below 5.6 is considered to be acid rain. Acid rain is created when smoke and fumes from burning fossil fuelsA fuel such as coal, oil, or natural gas that is formed over millions of years from the remains of plants and animals.—coal, oil, and natural gas—rise into the air. The smoke and fumes come from oil- and coal-fired power plants, factory smokestacks, and automobile exhaust. The main toxicpoisonous (poisonous) chemicals in this pollution are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. These chemicals react with sunlight and moisture in the air to produce rain or snow that is a mild solution of sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Some of the pollutant particles fall to the ground as acid dust. When acid…
