Acid rain is caused when sulfur (sulphur) dioxide and nitrogen oxides (from automobile exhausts and industrial emissions) are washed out from the atmosphere by rain as weak sulfuric (sulphuric) and nitric acid. Acid rain can cause serious damage to crops, and leaches calcium ions from soil and plant leaves causing an ionic imbalance.
Acid rain can cause serious damage to certain type of stone building and statues which has resulted in the destruction of various historic landmarks.
