Why do we have acid rain?

Answer 1

Acid rain contain traces of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide. These gases when dissolved in water - as in cloud water droplets - form sulfuric acid and nitric acid [and probably also sulfurous and nitrous acids].

Answer 2

Acid rain is created by a chemical reaction from substances such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide being released into the atmosphere. They mix with water in the atmosphere and fall as rain with an acidic pH.

Answer 3

Acid rain is rain that has been made acidic by pollution. The main cause industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels, the waste gases from these contain sulphur and nitrogen oxides which combine with atmospheric water to form acids.

Answer 4

Due to high levels of pollution the air has become contaminated with oxides of sulphur and carbon.

As the rain comes down it mixes with these oxides of sulphur and carbon

and the rainwater becomes acidic.

SO2 + H2O -> H2SO3

CO2 + H2O -> H2CO3

Answer 5

Acid rain is formed when emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from burning fossil fuels react with water vapor in the atmosphere, forming sulfuric acid and nitric acid. These acids then fall to the ground in rain, snow, fog, or dust, leading to acidification of water sources and damage to soil, plants, and infrastructure.