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When hydrocarbons combust they produce carbon dioxide gas and water, but fuel is rarely pure hydrocarbons. It always contains some impurities, namely Sulfur. And it is this Sulfur that causes the most problems. When any of these hot gasses come in contact with water vapor they react to form acids. There are two types of acid, weak acids and strong acids. Week acids will just cause burns or lower the PH of the surrounding environment, while strong acids will eat through flesh, bone, plants, anything. When Sulfur reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere, it produces sulfuric acid - one of the most strongest, most powerful acids known to man.

Once this happens, the acid gathers in rain drops and falls to earth (acid rain), causing irreparable damage to ecosystems. This threat destroys microorganisms and the damage often trickles up the food chain.

Even if fuel was pure hydrocarbons, the carbon dioxide and trace amounts of nitrogen dioxide would still form acid rain. So, the best way to eliminate this issue is to try to convert to renewable energy sources, reducing the amount of hydrocarbons that are burned and consequently reduce the amount of acid rain.

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