Generally: What is Acid Rain

Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is

unusually acidic, meaning that it possesses elevated levels of hydrogen ions
(low pH). It can have harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals, and
infrastructure. Acid rain is caused by emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur
dioxide and nitrogen oxides which react with the water molecules in the
atmosphere to produce acids. Governments have made efforts since the 1970s to
reduce the release of sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere with positive
results. Nitrogen oxides can also be produced naturally by lightning strikes
and sulfur dioxide is produced by volcanic eruptions. The chemicals in acid
rain can cause paint to peel, corrosion of steel structures such as bridges,
and erosion of stone statues. 
‘
"Acid rain" is a popular term referring to the deposition of wet (rain, snow,
sleet, fog, cloudwater, and dew) and dry (acidifying particles and gases)
acidic components. Distilled water, once carbon dioxide is removed, has a
neutral pH of 7. Liquids with a pH less than 7 are acidic, and those with a pH
greater than 7 are alkaline. “Clean” or unpolluted rain has a slightly acidic
pH of over 5.7, because carbon dioxide and water in the air react together to
form carbonic acid, but unpolluted rain also contains other chemicals. A
common example is nitricacid produced by electric discharge in the atmosphere
such as lightning. Carbonic acid is formed by the reaction

H2O (l) + CO2 (g) -> H2CO3 (aq)
Carbonic acid then can ionize in water forming low concentrations
of hydronium and carbonate ions:

H2O (l) + H2CO3 (aq) -> HCO3− (aq) + H3O+ (aq)

Acid deposition as an environmental issue would include additional acids
to H2CO3.
http://airpollutionph.blogspot.com/p/acid-rain-in-philippines.html

WHAT IS ACID RAIN?

Acid rain describes any form of precipitation that contains high levels of nitric and
sulfuric acids. It can also occur in the form of snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry
material that settle to Earth. Normal rain is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6, while
acid rain generally has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain/

Key Pointss!!!
 Acid Rain: form of precipitation which is unusually acidic ( possesses levels of hydrogen ions) has low ph level. Contains
high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids.
 Harmful effects on plants, aquatic animals and infrastructure (peeling of paint and corrosion of steel structures)
 Cause: emission of Carbon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Nitrogen oxides (these react with water molecules in the
atmosphere, producing acids)
 Natural Causes: Nitrogen Oxides= lightning strikes, Sulfur Dioxides= Volcanic eruptions
 H2O (l) + CO2 (g) -> H2CO3 (aq)(( okay so basically dito co2 combines with water which is basically the
clouds forming acids))
 H2O (l) + H2CO3 (aq) -> HCO3− (aq) + H3O+ (aq)(((dito naman yung acid na naform kanina ay
magcocombine with more water making it dissolved in the water))
 Note ko langg ((okay so yung first formula na ito is the forming of acid rain na nagreact ay Co2 so iba pang reaction yung
for nitrogen oxides and Sulfur Dioxides))
 Acid rain has a ph level between 4.2 and 4.4
 It occurs in rain, snow, fog, and tiny bits of dry material
 Causes
Causes of acid rain
Rotting vegetation and erupting volcanoes release some chemicals that can cause acid rain, but
most acid rain is a product of human activities. The biggest sources are coal-burning power plants,
factories, and automobiles.

When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the
atmosphere. Those air pollutants react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form airborne
sulfuric and nitric acid. Winds may spread these acidic compounds through the atmosphere
and over hundreds of miles. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff
water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil.
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain/

Sources of Acid Rain

Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulfur dioxide and
nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere,
where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants,
known as acid rain. Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be
carried very far by the wind. As a result, the two compounds can travel long distances where they
become part of the rain, sleet, snow, and fog that we experience on certain days.

Human activities are the main cause of acid rain. Over the past few decades, humans have released
so many different chemicals into the air that they have changed the mix of gases in the atmosphere.
Power plants release the majority of sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn
fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks, and buses
releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.

Acid Rain is Caused by Reactions in the Environment

Nature depends on balance, and although some rain is naturally acidic, with a pH level of around
5.0, human activities have made it worse. Normal precipitation—such as rain, sleet, or snow—reacts
with alkaline chemicals, or non-acidic materials, that can be found in air, soils, bedrock, lakes, and
streams. These reactions usually neutralize natural acids. However, if precipitation becomes too
acidic, these materials may not be able to neutralize all of the acids. Over time, these neutralizing
materials can be washed away by acid rain. Damage to crops, trees, lakes, rivers, and animals can
result.
https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html

Key points!!!
 Causes: Rotting Vegetation, Erupting Volcanoes
 Biggest source: Coal burning power plants, factories and automobiles
 Burning of fossil fuels release sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides which react with water, oxygen and other substances,
forming acids
 These acidic compounds can spread over hundreds of miles through the atmosphere and can spread through runoff
water, water systems, and into the soil on Earth.
 The two compounds can travel long distances where they become part of the rain, sleet, snow, and fog
 Powerplants along with exhaust from cars, trucks and buses release majority of sulfur dioxide and much nitrogen oxides
from burning fossil fuels such as coal
 Normal precipitation—such as rain, sleet, or snow—reacts with alkaline chemicals, or non-acidic materials, that can be
found in air, soils, bedrock, lakes, and streams. These reactions usually neutralize natural acids.
 If precipitation becomes too acidic, these materials may not be able to neutralize all of the acids. Over time, these
neutralizing materials can be washed away by acid rain. Damaging crops, trees, lakes, rivers, and animals as a result.
Sources::

General about acid rainn:: chemical formulas abt it

http://airpollutionph.blogspot.com/p/acid-rain-in-philippines.html

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/acid-rain/

Its effect on people

http://napa.networkofcare.org/ph/library/article.aspx?id=1736

What causes Acid Rain

https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/whatcauses.html