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The Negative Effects Of Acid Rain

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Acid rain is any form of precipitation with acidic components such as sulfuric or nitric acid, according to the EPA. The various forms of acidic rain according to HelpSaveNature are: acid rain in wet regions, snow or fog in cold regions, and acid gas or acid dust in dry regions. Acid rain has a pH level between 4.2 and 4.4, while normal rain has a pH of 5.6. According to the EPA, normal rain is slightly acidic on the pH scale due to CO2 dissolving into it forming weak carbonic acid. Acid rain might seem harmless due to it being a weak acid, but acid rain can cause significant problems in the future. Causes of acid rain range from man-made to natural causes. Several man-made causes range from burning things, car exhaust fumes, smoking, burning off fossil fuels for power such as electricity. Natural causes of acid rain are chemicals such as sulfur dioxide being erupted from volcanoes. Acid rain has a major negative impact on the environment. According to HelpSaveNature, trees are greatly harmed from acid rain due to acid rain damaging the cuticles of leaves. In the prescience of acid rain, gas seeps into leaves where cuticle damaged has occurred. This gas takes the places of water in the photosynthesis process. Once this happens the plant cannot take in carbon dioxide and the plants starts dying. Acid rain contaminating sea water can cause harm to sea animals and potentially death. Sea animals dying and decomposing at the bottom of the sea from acid rain cause further damage
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