Question

Which of these are impacts of acid rain?

• A. Helps plant growth
• B. Decreases pH of water bodies
• C. Increases acidity of the soil
• D. Inhibit the activities of nitrogen fixing bacteria

Answer 1

Answer: (B), (C), (D)

Inhibit the activities of nitrogen fixing bacteria

Motor vehicles and the industries releases sulphur dioxide and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere. These gases dissolve in rain water and form acids like sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids fall to the ground in form of rain and this rain is called acid rain.

$\bullet$ Acid rain has a pH of less than 4.5 and when it falls on water bodies it decreases the pH of water bodies and causes death of aquatic life.

$\bullet$ Acid rain also increases the acidity of soil and harms the nitrogen fixing bacterias which helps in plant growth. It causes nutrients leaching in soil hence inhibiting plant growth.