Acid rain is a type of acid reposition which occurs when rain reacts with chemicals in the air

to from a solution which is acidic.

Causes
Acid rain can occur due to natural sources which make slightly acidic due to the reaction of
the water with carbon dioxide in the air to form carbonic acid (H2CO3). This results in a pH of
natural rain of about 5.6pH however due to more carbon dioxide in the atmosphere through
pollution the acidity has increased. Though this is the main source of acid rain, nitrogen
oxides (formed during lighting) and sulfur gases such as those produced by erupting
volcanoes can also react with rain to make it more acidic. However, industrial processes
have meant there is a larger amount of these chemical in the air creating more acidic rain.
Effects
Acid rain can have severe effects to the environment. Acid rain can be detrimental to plants
and trees, it can damage leaves and also deplete nutrients in the soil, which can have knock
on effects to animals which live or consume these plants. Acid rain also causes problems to
rivers and lakes; most fish and aquatic life struggle to survive in water which is too acidic. A
healthy river has a pH of 6.5 or above, but acid rain has led to rivers which have 5pH or less.
Acid rain can also damage man-made structures and objects, it can dissolve limestone
(CaCO3 + CO2 (aq)+ H2O « Ca2+(aq) + 2 HCO3 (aq), and also metal structures can become
corroded.