Acid rain is essentially a term used to describe wet and dry deposition that contains an unusually high concentration of sulphuric (H2SO4) or nitric (HNO3) acid (1). Wet deposition includes snow, rain, and fog (1). Dry deposition generally refers to dust or smoke (1). One of the most common causes of acid rain is the production of electricity. To produce energy, we burn fossil fuels such as natural gas, coal or oil (2). When these fuels are burnt, the gases sulphur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) are released into the air (2). Once the gases reach the atmosphere, they react with chemicals such as oxygen and water), and become acidic compounds (usually mild sulphuric or nitric acids) (1). The equation for sulphur dioxide into sulphuric acid is 2SO2 + O2  SO3  SO ­3 + H2O  H2SO4. The equation for nitrogen oxide into nitric acid is 4NO + 3O2 + 2H2O  4HNO3. These acidic compounds are then precipitated down as either wet or dry deposition (1). Acid rain can have serious effects on the environment where it lands. Not only can it destroy lakes and streams, leaving them ˜dead' (without any wildlife that can survive in them) by decreasing the pH, it can also harm entire forests by harming the leaves needed for the survival of trees (2). Acid rain is also well known for speeding up the decay of buildings and statues (2). In Geneva, acid rain is a problem that has been recognised for a long time. It was most severe back in the 1980s (3), and Switzerland was one of the first countries to put measures in place to prevent the production of acid rain (which they believed was being caused both by car exhaust and the production of electricity) (3), yet is still an important issue to focus on today as it could have many social, environmental and economic impacts. Although acid rain is generally seen as a bad thing, it actually has certain social factors that can be seen as advantages. For example, if the wildlife and algae in Lac Léman is killed, the waters will become crystal clear and beautiful. This would mean that the lake is more appealing to people who want to swim in it, wh