Which precipitation can harm fish and other organisms, pollute soil, and damage buildings and statues?

• A. Rain
• B. Snow
• C. Hail
• D. Acid precipitation

Answer: (D)

Acid precipitation is rainfall, snow, or other forms of precipitation that has become acidic from air pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. When acid rain enters lakes and rivers, it lowers the water’s pH, stressing or killing fish and other aquatic organisms and can release toxic metals from sediments into the water. In soils, the extra acidity changes pH, reducing nutrient availability for plants and increasing the solubility of metals that can harm roots. For buildings and statues, the acids react with minerals such as calcium carbonate in limestone and marble, slowly dissolving the stone and causing erosion, while metals can corrode more quickly. This combination of ecological damage, soil disruption, and material deterioration is why acid precipitation is the harmful form described.