In my chemistry class, I learned about acid rain and how it affects the soil. Acid rain is rain that contains high levels of nitric and sulfuric acids. It can occur in the form of snow and fog also. Normal rain is slightly acidic, with a pH of 5.6, while acid rain generally has a pH between 4.2 and 4.4. (For reference, acidity and alkalinity are measured using a pH scale for which 7.0 is neutral.)

The biggest causes of acid rain are coal-burning power plants, factories, and automobiles. The rain droplets absorb air pollution like sulfur and nitrogen oxides. When acid rain reaches Earth, it flows across the surface in runoff water, enters water systems, and sinks into the soil. The acid deposits dissolve essential nutrients from the soil such as calcium before plants can use them, and cause aluminum to be released in the soil, which makes it hard for trees to take up water. The acid rain is very harmful to forests.

To prevent acid rain, we must reduce the cause of air pollution by burning fewer fossil fuels. Alternatives to burning fossil fuels are renewable energy sources like hydroelectricity, wind power, and solar energy. Also, many countries are turning to clean energy from nuclear power plants. The transitioning entirely to clean energy will take some time. In the meantime, the countries should make efforts to use fewer fossil fuels and develop technology to support the use of renewable and nuclear energy.

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/acid-rain

https://terrapass.com/blog/consequences-of-burning-fossil-fuels

https://www.epa.gov/acidrain/what-acid-rain