Which of the following is a problem caused by acid rain?

Which of the following is a problem caused by acid rain?

• A. It increases fish populations
• B. It promotes limestone formation
• C. It damages plant life and aquatic ecosystems
• D. It improves soil quality

Answer: (C)

Acid rain is a result of the atmospheric deposition of sulfuric and nitric acids, which primarily originate from industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust. When it rains, these acids fall to the ground, leading to significant environmental issues. One major problem caused by acid rain is that it damages plant life and aquatic ecosystems. Acid rain can lower the pH of soil and water bodies, making them more acidic than normal. Many plants and organisms, such as fish and amphibians, are sensitive to changes in pH. An acidic environment can harm plant growth, leading to diminished agricultural yields and loss of biodiversity in ecosystems. For aquatic life, increased acidity can result in decreased oxygen levels and negatively impact the health of fish and other organisms, leading to population declines or shifts in species composition. On the other hand, options that suggest benefits, such as increasing fish populations, promoting limestone formation, or improving soil quality, do not accurately represent the detrimental effects of acid rain. In fact, lower pH levels typically lead to poorer soil quality and harm fish populations rather than enhance them.

Acid rain is a result of the atmospheric deposition of sulfuric and nitric acids, which primarily originate from industrial emissions and vehicular exhaust. When it rains, these acids fall to the ground, leading to significant environmental issues.

One major problem caused by acid rain is that it damages plant life and aquatic ecosystems. Acid rain can lower the pH of soil and water bodies, making them more acidic than normal. Many plants and organisms, such as fish and amphibians, are sensitive to changes in pH. An acidic environment can harm plant growth, leading to diminished agricultural yields and loss of biodiversity in ecosystems. For aquatic life, increased acidity can result in decreased oxygen levels and negatively impact the health of fish and other organisms, leading to population declines or shifts in species composition.

On the other hand, options that suggest benefits, such as increasing fish populations, promoting limestone formation, or improving soil quality, do not accurately represent the detrimental effects of acid rain. In fact, lower pH levels typically lead to poorer soil quality and harm fish populations rather than enhance them.