Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. These gases react with water and oxygen in the air to form acids, which fall to earth as acid rain. Acid rain harms forests and lakes by making the water and soil too acidic for many plants and aquatic animals to survive. We can reduce acid rain by switching to cleaner energy sources like natural gas, removing sulfur from coal before burning it, and installing catalytic converters in vehicles.

2. What is Acid Rain?
Acidic rainfall produced by atmospheric pollution
causes environmental harm, mainly to forests and
lakes.
Burning fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen
oxides are the main contributors in forming acid rain.

3. http://envis.tropmet.res.in/kidscorner/KidsCornerImg/acid_rain/acidrain1.gif

4. Sulfur dioxide from burning coal
S(s) + O2(g)  SO2(g)
H2O(l) + SO2  H2SO3(g)
SO2(g) + ½ O2  SO3(g)
H2O(l) + SO3(g)  H2SO4(l)
Nitrogen oxides from the internal combustion of an engine
N2(g) + O2(g)  2NO(g)
2NO(g) + O2(g)  2NO2(g)
2NO2(g) + H2O(l)  HNO3(aq) + HNO2(g)

5. Acid Rain’s Environmental
Effects: Acidic Waters
http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/21611238.jpg

6. Acid Rain’s Environmental
Effects: Damaged Forests
http://images.nationalgeographic.com/wpf/media-live/photos/000/001/cache/dead-spruce_133_600x450.jpg

7. Acid Rain’s Environmental Effects:
Oxygen Depletion in Water
http://swagata.edublogs.org/atmospheric-deposition/

8. How can we control it?
Using natural gas, oil or renewable energy sources
Removing sulfur from coal before burning or using
low-sulfur coal
Catalytic converters installed in vehicles
Lowering the acidity of affected water systems

9. References
http://www.epa.gov/acidrain
http://www.acidrainissues.zoomshare.com
http://www.chemicalformula.org/acid-rain
http://environment.nationalgeographic.com.au/enviro
nment/global-warming/acid-rain-overview/
http://auto.howstuffworks.com/catalytic-
converter1.htm