Acid rain is an atmospheric deposition phenomenon characterized by precipitation with elevated concentrations of strong acids, primarily sulfuric (H₂SO₄) and nitric (HNO₃) acids, resulting in a pH typically below 5.6. It arises from the oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), emitted mainly by fossil fuel combustion and industrial processes, into acidic species within cloud water and aerosols via gas-phase and aqueous-phase reactions. Acid rain encompasses wet deposition (rain, snow, fog) and dry deposition (acidic gases and particles), influencing biogeochemical cycles, altering soil and freshwater chemistry, and affecting material weathering and ecosystem function.
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