Acids in Nature: From Volcanoes to Rainwater

Volcanoes release sulfur dioxide, which forms sulfuric acid when mixed with water vapor.
Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic, with a pH around 5.6 due to dissolved carbon dioxide.
Acidic hot springs contain sulfuric and hydrochloric acids from underground gases.
Acid rain occurs when industrial gases mix with rain, lowering its pH even further.
Ants produce formic acid as a defense mechanism against predators.
Stomach acid in animals, including humans, is hydrochloric acid used for digestion.
Plants like citrus trees naturally produce citric acid in their fruits.
Soil acidity affects what plants can grow, shaping entire ecosystems.
Ocean water contains carbonic acid, formed when CO₂ dissolves into seawater.
Even lightning contributes by helping nitrogen oxides form nitric acid in rain.