be dangerous, such as ammonia and bleach. Lemon juice, vinegar and cola are all acidic. Rain is naturally acidic, but acid gases make it even more acidic, sometimes as acid as lemon! Nature can also produce acid gases, such as volcanoes. When they erupt, the smoke that comes out of
5. There is a special scale called
the pH scale that measures the strength of acids and alkalis. A low pH number means something is acid. A high number means something is alkali. And something in the middle is called neutral. Acidity can be tested using litmus paper. Usually rain is a little acidic,
and has pH of about 5.5, if the
takes away important minerals
pH of rainfall is less than 5.5,
from the leaves and the soil.
then the rain is probably
Minerals are like vitamins for
polluted by acid gases. Acids
trees and plants. Without
turn litmus paper red, and
them, trees and plants cannot
alkalis turn it blue. With a
grow properly. They lose their
special paper called universal
leaves and become very weak.
indicator, you can test levels
They are no longer strong
of acidity.
enough to fight against
illnesses and frost. They
6. Air pollution can be carried
become very ill and can even
over long distances. When
die. Some soils are alkaline,
acid gases are released, they
when acid rain falls on them
go high up in the sky, and then
the acid becomes neutral.
they are pushed by strong
Plants and trees living on
winds towards other countries.
these soils are not in any big
The acid rain in Sweden is
danger.
caused by air pollution in
Britain and other countries of
9. Acid rain has a terrible effect
Europe. The pollution
on water life. Even if the acid
produced in Britain ends up
rain does not fall straight into
mostly in Scandinavia -
the lake, for example, it may
countries in northern Europe
enter from rivers and streams.
including Sweden, Norway and
Some of the life in the lake
Denmark. In the USA, the
such as fish and plants may
winds blow the air pollution to
end up dying, because they
certain areas in Canada.
cannot survive in acidic lakes.
Thousands of lakes in
7. When rain is acidic, it affects
Scandinavia have no more life
what it falls on: trees, lakes,
in them. They have received
buildings and farmland.
so much acid rain for so many
Sometimes rain is not very
years, because of the winds
acidic and does not cause a lot
pushing the acid gases, that
of problems, but when it is
nothing can survive. You can
acidic, it can be very harmful
recognise a lake dead from
to the environment.
acid rain by its clean and
8. Acid rain can have terrible
effects on a forest. The acid
crystal clear water. But they
look clean because there is
very little living in them
buildings and monuments are
anymore. Tiny plants and
affected by acid rain. For
animals are mostly unable to
example, the Statue of Liberty
survive.
in New York, USA, has had to
be restored because of acid
10.Particulates - very small
rain damage. Buildings are
particles of debris found in
naturally eroded by rain, wind,
some of the air pollution - are
frost and the sun, but when
one of the main causes of
acidic gases are present, it
health problems. In towns and
speeds up the erosion.
cities, these are released
mainly by diesel engines from cars and trucks. When we breathe in air pollution, these very fine particulates can easily enter our body, where they can cause breathing problems, and over time even cause cancer. Water we drink from taps can be contaminated by acid rain, which can damage the brain. 11.Acid rain can also ruin buildings because the acid eats into metal and stone. It also damages stained glass and plastics. Some types of building materials are softer than others, and it is the softer ones which are most affected by acid rain. Sandstone and limestone are examples of stone which are fairly soft and are damaged easily. Granite is an example of a harder stone that can resist the effects of acid rain. In many places in the world, ancient and famous