1. Rain is very important for life.

All living things need water to

the crater is also full of acid

gases.

live, even people. Rain brings

us the water we need. But in

3. Acid rain results when sulfur

many places in the world even

dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen

where you live, rain has

oxides (NOX) are emitted into

become a menace. Because of

the atmosphere and

pollution in the air, acid gases

transported by wind and air

from factories, cars and

currents. The SO2 and NOX

homes, the rain is becoming

react with water, oxygen and

dangerous for the life of every

other chemicals to form

living creature. This rain is

sulfuric and nitric acids. These

known as 'acid rain'.

then mix with water and other

materials before falling to the

2. Acid gases are produced when

ground. While a small portion

fossil fuels like coal and oil are

of the SO2 and NOX that cause

burned in power stations,

acid rain is from natural

factories and in our own

sources such as volcanoes,

homes. Most of these acid

most of it comes from the

gases are blown into the sky,

burning of fossil fuels.

and when they mix with the

clouds it can cause rain - or

4. Winds can blow SO2 and NOX

snow, sleet, fog, mist or hail -

over long distances and across

to become more acidic. The

borders making acid rain a

opposites of acid are alkalis;

problem for everyone and not

for example, toothpaste and

just those who live close to

baking powder are both

these sources.

alkalis. Strong alkalis can also

be dangerous, such as
ammonia and bleach. Lemon
juice, vinegar and cola are all
acidic. Rain is naturally acidic,
but acid gases make it even
more acidic, sometimes as
acid as lemon! Nature can also
produce acid gases, such as
volcanoes. When they erupt,
the smoke that comes out of

5. There is a special scale called

the pH scale that measures
the strength of acids and
alkalis. A low pH number
means something is acid. A
high number means
something is alkali. And
something in the middle is
called neutral. Acidity can be
tested using litmus paper.
Usually rain is a little acidic,

and has pH of about 5.5, if the

takes away important minerals

pH of rainfall is less than 5.5,

from the leaves and the soil.

then the rain is probably

Minerals are like vitamins for

polluted by acid gases. Acids

trees and plants. Without

turn litmus paper red, and

them, trees and plants cannot

alkalis turn it blue. With a

grow properly. They lose their

special paper called universal

leaves and become very weak.

indicator, you can test levels

They are no longer strong

of acidity.

enough to fight against

illnesses and frost. They

6. Air pollution can be carried

become very ill and can even

over long distances. When

die. Some soils are alkaline,

acid gases are released, they

when acid rain falls on them

go high up in the sky, and then

the acid becomes neutral.

they are pushed by strong

Plants and trees living on

winds towards other countries.

these soils are not in any big

The acid rain in Sweden is

danger.

caused by air pollution in

Britain and other countries of

9. Acid rain has a terrible effect

Europe. The pollution

on water life. Even if the acid

produced in Britain ends up

rain does not fall straight into

mostly in Scandinavia -

the lake, for example, it may

countries in northern Europe

enter from rivers and streams.

including Sweden, Norway and

Some of the life in the lake

Denmark. In the USA, the

such as fish and plants may

winds blow the air pollution to

end up dying, because they

certain areas in Canada.

cannot survive in acidic lakes.

Thousands of lakes in

7. When rain is acidic, it affects

Scandinavia have no more life

what it falls on: trees, lakes,

in them. They have received

buildings and farmland.

so much acid rain for so many

Sometimes rain is not very

years, because of the winds

acidic and does not cause a lot

pushing the acid gases, that

of problems, but when it is

nothing can survive. You can

acidic, it can be very harmful

recognise a lake dead from

to the environment.

acid rain by its clean and

8. Acid rain can have terrible

effects on a forest. The acid

crystal clear water. But they

look clean because there is

very little living in them

buildings and monuments are

anymore. Tiny plants and

affected by acid rain. For

animals are mostly unable to

example, the Statue of Liberty

survive.

in New York, USA, has had to

be restored because of acid

10.Particulates - very small

rain damage. Buildings are

particles of debris found in

naturally eroded by rain, wind,

some of the air pollution - are

frost and the sun, but when

one of the main causes of

acidic gases are present, it

health problems. In towns and

speeds up the erosion.

cities, these are released

mainly by diesel engines from
cars and trucks. When we
breathe in air pollution, these
very fine particulates can
easily enter our body, where
they can cause breathing
problems, and over time even
cause cancer. Water we drink
from taps can be
contaminated by acid rain,
which can damage the brain.
11.Acid rain can also ruin
buildings because the acid
eats into metal and stone. It
also damages stained glass
and plastics. Some types of
building materials are softer
than others, and it is the softer
ones which are most affected
by acid rain. Sandstone and
limestone are examples of
stone which are fairly soft and
are damaged easily. Granite is
an example of a harder stone
that can resist the effects of
acid rain. In many places in
the world, ancient and famous