What is the composition of acid rain?

The composition of acid rain is primarily characterized by higher amounts of sulfuric and nitric acids. Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the atmosphere, often from industrial processes, vehicle emissions, and the burning of fossil fuels. These compounds can react with water vapor in the atmosphere to produce sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3), which then fall to the ground as acid rain.

This type of precipitation can have significant environmental impacts, including damage to forests, soils, and aquatic ecosystems. It can lead to the leaching of nutrients from the soil and contribute to the acidification of lakes and streams, adversely affecting plant and animal life.

Other choices do not accurately represent the primary components of acid rain. While heavy metals can indeed be a concern in overall pollution and their presence can occur in various forms of precipitation, they do not constitute the defining acidic nature of acid rain. Similarly, calcium carbonate is not a major component of acid rain, and excessive amounts of oxygen and nitrogen are not contributors to the acidity of rainwater. Instead, it's the presence of sulfuric and nitric acids that is crucial to defining the phenomenon of acid rain.