Acid Rain Explained: When Chemistry Falls From the Sky

Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) mix with water in the air.
These gases come mainly from burning coal, oil, and gas in power plants and vehicles.
The result is rain, snow, or fog with a lower pH—more acidic than normal precipitation.
Acid rain can damage forests by leaching nutrients from soil and harming leaves.
Lakes and rivers hit by acid rain may lose fish and other aquatic life.
Famous stone buildings and monuments erode faster when exposed to acidic precipitation.
Acid rain is not dangerous to people directly, but it affects the environment we depend on.
Scrubbers in smokestacks and cleaner fuels have greatly reduced acid rain in many regions.
Chemistry explains how neutralization with lime can help restore acidic lakes and soils.
Acid rain shows how air pollution, chemistry, and ecosystems are tightly connected.