Name: ___________________________________
Jack Tuper Date: ________________
3/27/24
Acid Rain Reading Passage https://bit.ly/3MwQktu
Acid Rain
Acid rain is precipitation that is more acidic than normal. It can be as acidic as lemon
juice. Acid rain forms when fossil fuels burn. Burning fossil fuels releases sulfur and
nitrogen gases into the atmosphere. These gases combine with water vapor in the
atmosphere to produce acidic water vapor. The acidic water vapor condenses to form
acid rain clouds. Acid rain clouds eventually become “too heavy with water” and acid rain
falls to Earth’s surface. Acid rain clouds usually do not release acid rain in the same
location they form. Acid rain clouds usually form over urban areas. Acid rain clouds move
with wind currents. The rain often falls hundreds of miles away in more rural areas.
There are several ways acid rain is harmful to natural environments. First, acid rain runs
along Earth’s surface and collects in rivers and lakes. Over time, it accumulates and can
change the pH of the rivers and lakes. It lowers the pH of these bodies of water. This is
harmful to fish, aquatic plants and other organisms. Some lakes become so acidic that
nothing can live in them. Second, acid rain is deadly to algae. Although too many algae
are a bad thing, no alga is even worse. Algae often form the base of aquatic food chains.
Without algae, food chains are completely disrupted. Third, acid rain that permeates the
ground can be taken up by plants. Plants can be harmed by the acidic water. The acidic
water can make plants more susceptible to disease or attacks by insects.
In 1990, the Clean Air Act was passed. The law helps curb acid rain because it limits the
amount of sulfur and nitrogen-containing gases released into the air by power plants and
vehicles. Power plants must use scrubbers to remove sulfur gases from gases leaving
smokestacks. Cars have catalytic converters, which reduce the number of nitrogen-
containing gases released in exhaust. As a result of the law, air pollution has decreased.
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Questions
1. What is acid rain?
2. How does acid rain form?
3. How is acid rain harmful to natural environments?
4. How does the Clean Air Act help reduce acid rain?
5. A great way to reduce acid rain is to produce energy without fossil fuels. What are
the pros and cons to this?
© Stephanie Elkowitz
Name: ___________________________________
Jack Tuper Date: ________________
3/27/24
Acid Rain Answer Sheet
Questions
1. What is acid rain?
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precipitation that is more acidic than usual
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2. How does acid rain form?
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Fossil fuels burning
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3. How is acid rain harmful to natural environments?
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It is harmful to fish and aquatic life
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4. How does the Clean Air Act help reduce acid rain?
So that factories do not burn as much fossil fuels
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5. A great way to reduce acid rain is to produce energy without fossil fuels. What are
the pros and cons to this?
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You cant generate as much energy but you will reduce pollution
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© Stephanie Elkowitz
