Index IntroductionMeasuring the acidity of rainwaterAdverse effects of acid rainHistory and present of acid waterAcid rain, economy and industriesConclusionIntroductionAcid rain, or acid deposition, is rainwater with high levels of ions of hydrogen (H+). Acid rain refers to the ways in which acid moves from the atmosphere to the Earth's surface. It is cross-border and involves the fall of sulfuric or nitric acid. There are two different forms of acid deposition, one of them is wet deposition: acid rain, snow and fog, and dry deposition, which falls as separated acid particles or gases. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Acid rain occurs due to high levels of pollution in the atmosphere. This is a chemical reaction caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that react with oxygen, water vapor, carbon dioxide and other substances in the atmosphere to form sulfuric and nitric acid. Sunlight is a factor that increases the speed of these reactions. The emission of these chemicals alters the way gases in the atmosphere react with each other. Burning fossil fuels such as; oil, gas and coal, generate sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide gases and release them into the atmosphere. Acid rain is prevalent in areas with high emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. As the air becomes more polluted with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, acidity increases. Only ten percent of the pollution responsible for acid rain is due to natural causes. Measuring the acidity of rainwater Acidity is a measure of the concentration of hydrogen atoms in a solution. The pH scale measures the alkalinity and acidity of the solution. A substance is considered acidic if it has a pH less than 7. The acidity of rainwater comes from; carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. Pure water is neutral and has a pH of 7. Rainwater, due to carbon dioxide in the air, is weakly acidic and has a pH between 5 and 6. Carbon dioxide contributes to acidity natural of rainwater, as when it dissolves in water, the reactants are rearranged to form a carbonic acid. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are by-products generated by the combustion of fuels and gases. Sulfur dioxide; So2 is a chemical compound. It is released into the atmosphere through industrial activity. So2 is formed when sulfur-containing materials are burned. Sulfur dioxide is a form of air pollution and, if inhaled, can cause irritation to the nose, throat and airways. Nitrogen oxides have a chemical symbol No2. It is a highly reactive gas released into the Earth's atmosphere through manufacturing, oil refineries, and fuel emissions from cars, trucks, buses, and power plants. Inhaling air with a high concentration of nitrogen oxides can disturb the functioning of the lungs and contribute to asthma and other harmful respiratory conditions. Adverse Effects of Acid Rain Acid rain has many adverse effects on the Earth's ecosystem. Acid rain seeps into the soil, dissolving magnesium or calcium; plants vital nutrients and releases toxic substances that affect how plants absorb water. Acid deposition also weakens trees, damages their leaves and limits the nutrients available to them. The adverse consequences of acid rain can be further observed in marine environments. Acid rain falls directly on aquatic habitats and causes these environments to become more acidic.,.