Acid precipitation can damage which of the following?

• A. Aquatic life only
• B. Buildings and statues
• C. Both aquatic life and buildings
• D. None

Answer: (C)

Acid precipitation harms both living ecosystems and human-made materials. When rain or deposition becomes acidic, it lowers the pH of water bodies, which disrupts aquatic life, alters chemical balances, and increases the solubility of toxic metals like aluminum—conditions that stress or kill fish and other organisms. On buildings and statues, acidic components react with calcium carbonate in limestone and marble, dissolving stone and causing surface erosion, pits, and scaling; acids also speed up corrosion of metals and damage protective paints. Because these effects touch both the environment and structures, acid precipitation can damage both aquatic life and buildings.