Is particulate pollution in fossil fuel power plants responsible for acid rain?

Particulate pollution from fossil fuel power plants primarily consists of tiny solid or liquid particles, including soot, dust, and metals. While these particles can have various environmental and health effects, they are not directly responsible for the chemical processes that lead to acid rain. Acid rain primarily results from the emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are gases released during the combustion of fossil fuels.

When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, they can react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids can then fall to the ground as acid rain. While particulate matter can contribute to environmental issues and might have indirect effects on air quality and health, the direct causative agents for acid rain are the gaseous emissions of SO2 and NOx from fossil fuel combustion, rather than the particulate matter itself.