When fossil fuels such as coal, oil and natural gas are burned, chemicals like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are produced. These chemicals react with water and other chemicals in the air to form sulfuric acid, nitric acid and other harmful pollutants like sulfates and nitrates. These acid pollutants spread upwards into the atmosphere, and are carried by air currents, to finally return to the ground in the form of acid rain, fog or snow.

Effects of acid rain:

Acid rain is known to cause widespread environmental damage.

1. Acid rain dissolves and washes away nutrients in the soil which are needed by plants. It can also dissolve naturally occurring toxic substances like aluminum and mercury, freeing them to pollute water or poison plants.

2. Acid rain that falls or flows as ground water to reach rivers, lakes and wetlands, causes the water in them to become acidic. This affects plant and animal life in aquatic ecosystems.

3. . Acid rain also has far reaching effects on wildlife. By adversely affecting one species, the entire food chain is disrupted, ultimately endangering the entire ecosystem.

4. Acid rain indirectly affects plants by removing nutrients from the soil in which they grow.

5. Acid rain and dry acid deposition damages buildings, automobiles, and other structures made of stone or metal.

Solutions:

The best way to stop the formation of acid rain is to reduce the emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. This can be achieved by using less energy from fossil fuels in power plants, vehicles and industry. Switching to cleaner burning fuels is also a way out.