2006-08-20 08:53:44 · 4 answers · asked by Sean N 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
When it rains, the rain mixes with the Sulphur oxides and carbon oxides in the air which makes it slightly acidic. That is how acid rain is formed.
2006-08-20 09:09:28 · answer #1 · answered by falexge 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rain falling through a clean atmosphere will react with CO2 to form a weak carbonic acid H2CO3.
Rain falling through an atmosphere that is polluted with sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides will dissolve the gasses which then hydrolyze forming acidic compounds which then reduce the pH of the soil.
2006-08-20 19:04:05 · answer #2 · answered by Stewart H 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Moisture in the clouds, just like normal rain. In fact, it is normal rain until it falls through the pollution and disgust of some bigger industrial cities. Then it's "acid rain", although there's nothing acidic about it.
It's just a term.
2006-08-20 16:00:23 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
As the rain is falling through the sky it picks up the pollutants in the air such as sulfer (acid pH) from coal burning plants for instance. By the time it reaches earth the water has leaned to the acid side, instead pH 7.0 it could be pH 6.0 for example.
2006-08-20 23:59:30 · answer #4 · answered by Goldenrain 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋