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Acid rain is a result of air pollution. When any type of fuel is burnt, lots of different chemicals are produced.

The smoke that comes from a fire or the fumes that come out of a car exhaust don't just contain the sooty grey particles that you can see - they also contains lots of invisible gases that can be even more harmful to our environment.

Power stations, factories and cars all burn fuels and therefore they all produce polluting gases.

Some of these gases (especially nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide) react with the tiny droplets of water in clouds to form sulphuric and nitric acids.

The rain from these clouds then falls as very weak acid - which is why it is known as "acid rain".

Acid Rain and Forests

It is thought that acid rain can cause trees to grow more slowly or even to die but scientists have found that it is not the only cause. The same amount of acid rain seems to have more effect in some areas than it does in others.

As acid rain falls on a forest it trickles through the leaves of the trees and runs down into the soil below. Some of it finds its way into streams and then on into rivers and lakes. Some types of soil can help to neutralise the acid - they have what is called a "buffering capacity".

Other soils are already slightly acidic and these are particularly susceptible to the effects of acid rain.

Acid rain can effect trees in several different ways, it may:

dissolve and wash away the nutrients and minerals in the soil which help the trees to grow.

It can cause the release of harmful substances such as aluminium into the soil. wearing away the waxy protective coating of leaves, damaging them and preventing them from being able to photosynthesise properly.

A combination of these effects weakens the trees which means that they can be more easily attacked by diseases and insects or injured by bad weather.

It is not just trees that are affected by acid rain, other plants may also suffer.

Acid rain can be carried great distances in the atmosphere, not just between countries but also from continent to continent.

The acid can also take the form of snow, mists and dry dusts.

The rain sometimes falls many miles from the source of pollution but wherever it falls it can have a serious effect on soil, trees, buildings and water.

Forests all over the world are dying, fish are dying.

Scientists have been doing a lot of research into how acid rain affects the environment.

In Scandinavia there are dead lakes, which are crystal clear and contain no living creatures or plant life.

It seems even Freshwater Fish are threatened, there have been reports of deformed fish being hatched.

This leads to fish-eating birds and animals being affected also.

 

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Why the acid rain and rust is a harmful effects?

ACID RAIN and RUST are harmful because it contains harmful gases like sulphuric acid etc... mainly sulphur gasesbecause of this harmful gases when they reach the atmosphere when it rains it forms acid rain as the harmful gases mix with the atmosphere .This acid rain will affect plants,animals humans and all living organism.The acid mainly occurs at industrial areas because of these harmful gases which are released by the industrial effluents.they are definitely harmful to the atmosphere.


How acid rain is formed and harmful effects of acid rain on plants animals soil etc?

Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere from human activities like burning of fossil fuels react with water vapor to form sulfuric acid and nitric acid. These acids can harm plants by leaching nutrients from the soil, affecting their growth, and damaging their leaves. Acid rain can also alter the pH of soil, making it less suitable for plants, and can disrupt aquatic ecosystems by lowering the pH of water bodies, affecting fish and other aquatic organisms.


Whe rain has the pH scale of lower than 5.6 is called?

Acid rain, of course. Though, to be correct, and because the acid is disolved in solution, this shoud be called acidic rain.


What do you call the rain that contain chemical waste and causes damage to plants and animal?

That type of rain is called acid rain. It forms when pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides mix with water vapor in the atmosphere, forming sulfuric acid and nitric acid. Acid rain can harm plants, animals, and ecosystems by altering soil pH levels and contaminating water sources.


What is aicd rain?

"acid rain" is a corrosive acid that is built up from fumes given off by most commercial cars in crowded cities... that if built up over time cause a precipitation of rain that corrodes most surfaces... the acid could be either sulfuric or nitric acid

Related Questions

How is acid rain harmful to animals and plants?

How acid rain is so harmful to animals and plants is that most living creatures need water to live but acid rain is pollution and if that gets in a plants, or animals water supply they either drink or absorb it, and because of the pollutants and chemicals that are in acid rain it can cause digesting problems to animals, and growing problems to plants. Also if a plants absorbs the acid rain, and an animal eats them it will surely kill them in a short while


What is a type of precipitation that is harmful to plants animals buildings and water?

acid rain, hail


Why acid rain is harmful?

Acid rain is harmful because it is acidic. Acids wear away materials and eat through animals and plants that are too weak to hold up.


What are advantages of acid rain?

There are NO advantages in acid rain. Acid rain has dissolved the harmful fumes from factory and vehicle pollution to turn neutral rain into acid. This acid then damages plants, animals, landscapes and buildings as it falls to earth.


Is acid rain good or bad?

Acid rain, which is precipitation containing sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide, is bad. It is harmful to plants, animals, and bodies of water.


What affects does acid rain have on wildlife and plants?

Acid rain is very harmful for wildlife and plants as it contains nitric and sulphuric acids. It affects the growth of plants and roots are damaged therefore deforestation of plants takes place which causing a loss of habitat for many forests and animals will not able to eat fresh grass.


What kind of rain is harmful to plants that carry pullution?

Acid rain


Why the acid rain and rust is a harmful effects?

ACID RAIN and RUST are harmful because it contains harmful gases like sulphuric acid etc... mainly sulphur gasesbecause of this harmful gases when they reach the atmosphere when it rains it forms acid rain as the harmful gases mix with the atmosphere .This acid rain will affect plants,animals humans and all living organism.The acid mainly occurs at industrial areas because of these harmful gases which are released by the industrial effluents.they are definitely harmful to the atmosphere.


What do you think will happen to the soil crops plants animals and exposed water supply when there is acid rain?

happen to the soil,crops,plants,animals and exposed water acid rain


The effects of acid rain?

Acid rain can damage the environment and poison plants and animals. Acid rain can be any where from mild to very high in toxicity


What are the sources of water pollution?

acid rain, plants, and animals


Is acid rain effective to the environment?

Acid rain can pollute water and hurt or kill plants and animals.