Acid rain, in a general sense, is any type of precipitation that has sulfuric or nitric acids in it. It can come in the form of rain, snow, fog, hail or dust, and has a pH level of 4.2 to 4.4. It is caused by human activities and can have adverse effects on the environment.

The main cause of acid rain is the burning of fossil fuels. The combustion process results in sulfur and nitrogen dioxide being released into the air. When they combine with water and oxygen molecules, they form sulfuric and nitric acids, creating acid rain. Acid rain can also be caused by natural processes such as lightning and volcanoes, but fossil fuels and vehicles are the main contributors.

The effects of acid rain become apparent when we look at the different environments that it hits. Firstly, it can be very harmful to aquatic life. The rain can either fall directly onto the body of water or makes its way there through runoff. It caused aluminum to be released into these ecosystems, which is harmful to the organisms living there. It also increases the acidity of the water, which makes it harder for eggs to hatch properly and fish to die. All in all, it messes up the ecosystems of aquatic creatures. It also has damaging effects on forests. Again, it releases aluminum into the soil which can be very harmful. It also dissolves nutrients and minerals that promote tree growth, so the trees are suffering along with all the organisms that occupy them. Lastly, it can also damage man-made structures such as statues and buildings.

The main solution to reducing acid rain comes from limiting the burning of fossil fuels and finding methods for renewable energy. To help, you can try to conserve energy and reduce your time in vehicles.