Acid Rain: Its Cause, Effects, and Solution

Acidification of rain water is defined as one of the most serious environmental problems of transboundary nature. Acid rain is mainly a mixture of sulphuric acid and nitric acid depending upon the relative quantities of oxides the sulphur and nitrogen emissions. Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds like sulphur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the air. These substances can rise very high into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen other chemicals form more acidic pollutants, known as acid rain. Acid rain is cause of presence of certain pollutants in the air due to the car and industrial processes. It is easily defined as rain, fog, sleet or snow that has been made acidic by pollutants in the air as a result of fossil fuel and industrial combustions that mostly emits nitrogen oxides (NO_X) and sulphur dioxides (SO₂).Acid rain is linked to both natural and man-made sources. Nitrogen oxides are formed through the extreme heating of air when a thunderstorm produces lighting. Also, sulphurous gases are discharged from erupted volcanoes and rotting vegetation.