You are viewing the easy text

Measuring Acid Rain

The acidity of acid rain is measured using the pH scale. It ranges from 1 to 14.

1    2    3    4    5    6    7    8    9    10    11    12    13    14   
      Acid                    Neutral                     Alkali

Substances like vinegar and lemon juice are acidic, and have a low pH. Distilled water is neutral with a pH of 7. Substances like blood and milk are alkaline and have a high pH.

All rain is slightly acidic as it contains carbon dioxide, a gas found in air. Unpolluted rain usually has a pH of between 5 and 6. Acid rain has been found to have a pH as low as 3 and in some cases even lower.

 

Acid Rain

Print Topic

  Technical Page

Websites
Environment Canada
US EPA
Acid Rain

Other topics
Introduction
Buildings
Cars
Chimneys
Doing Our Bit
Freshwater
Impacts
Industry & Power
Measuring
Trees
Wildlife

Home