Question

The acid rain is caused by the burning of fossil fuels in automobiles and coal-fired thermal power plants, which emit sulphur dioxide and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases react with rain to form sulphuric acid and carbonic acid, resulting in acid rain.

1. How is acid rain harmful?
2. Does air pollution lead to water pollution? Give an example to support your answer.

Answer 1

1. • It lowers the pH of lakes, rivers, and soils, killing aquatic plants and fish and disrupting food chains; it can also leach toxic heavy metals from soil into water, making groundwater unsafe.
   • It damages crops and forests by harming leaves and reducing growth and yield.
   • It corrodes buildings, monuments and statues (especially marble and limestone) and damages other man‑made structures.
2. Yes. Gases released to the air (e.g., SO₂ and NOx from vehicles and coal plants) react with rainwater to form acids; when that acid rain falls into lakes, rivers, and soils, it makes them acidic and pollutes them. This is a direct example of air pollution causing water pollution.