17 Acid rain

17 Acid rain

Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic due to the dissolution of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, forming carbonic acid, which typically gives it a pH of around 5.6. Acid rain, however, is significantly more acidic, with a pH usually below 5.0, and sometimes as low as 2.4 in severely affected areas. This increased acidity is primarily caused by atmospheric pollutants.