Fossil fuels are burnt on a huge scale - Acid Rain . It reacts with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form a dilute solution of hydrogen sulfate . This is sulfuric acid , it is the main pollutant in acid rain . The second most important pollutant in acid rain is nitric acid , see next page .
Acid rain kills trees .
It runs into rivers and gathers in lakes . Eventually, lakes become too acidic , and plants and fish begin to die . It also reacts with limestone and damages limestone buildings , see Acids and Alkalis . Powdered limestone or slaked lime can be added to soils or lakes to make them less acidic . It would be better if we could avoid or reduce pollutant gas emissions in the first place .