Final answer:
Acid rain is precipitation that has been mixed with industrial pollutants, resulting in harmful effects on the environment, particularly on forests which suffer due to low soil buffering capacity and lack of soil treatments, unlike commercial agriculture.
Step-by-step explanation:
Acid rain is a form of precipitation that is significantly more acidic than normal rainwater, having been mixed with sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the atmosphere. These substances can come from industrial processes that burn fossil fuels and from motor vehicles. When acid rain falls, it can negatively affect many natural and man-made environments.
Forests tend to suffer more from acid rain compared to commercial agriculture because they are often located in areas with soil that has low buffering capacity. This means the soil is less capable of neutralizing acidic pollutants. Additionally, acid rain can release toxic aluminum from the soil into water systems, harming aquatic life. Commercial agriculture areas typically have better-managed soils with measures to compensate for acidification, such as lime supplementation.
Moreover, forests are complex ecosystems with numerous tree species that may be more sensitive to acid rain and its effects on nutrient availability. Unlike commercial agriculture, forests do not receive regular soil treatments to neutralize acidity, so they are more vulnerable to long-term ecological damage.