Why does burning coal contribute to acid rain?

Burning coal contributes to acid rain primarily because the combustion process releases sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) into the atmosphere.21

When these gases are emitted by power plants and industrial facilities, they undergo chemical reactions with water, oxygen, and other substances in the air. These reactions produce sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃). These acids eventually mix with cloud moisture and fall to the Earth's surface as acid rain, or acid deposition.123

This process is a significant environmental concern because acid deposition can damage buildings, harm crops, and cause water pollution in lakes and marine ecosystems. Because these pollutants can be transported by winds over hundreds or thousands of kilometers, the environmental impact of coal combustion often extends far beyond the original source of the emissions.234