So, what really causes acid rain? For many years people could not figure out what the main cause or causes of acid rain were, and there were humungous debates on which one was right. Now scientific research shows that the main contributors of acid rain are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). These chemicals are released by certain industrial processes that affect our environment. The more industrialized countries such as Europe and the
The emissions are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. These gases are released by car exhaust, industrial companies like smelting, refining and electric power plants that burn a lot of fossil fuels like coal and oil. The gases when combined with water vapor in clouds form sulfuric and nitric acids. When precipitation comes down, it is highly acidic, it would have a pH of about 5.5 or lower affecting the planet's eco systems.
