Contribution of NO3 ‐ in lowering pH of precipitation

Abstract Preliminary analyses of 137 precipitation samples, tested for ion balance and specific conductance(SC), showed that the major ions existing were— six cations: H+, NH4 +, Ca2+, Na+, K+and Mg2+; three anions: SO4 2‐, NO3 ‐ and Cl‐. In terms of equivalence, NO3 ‐ exceeded SO4 2‐resulting in a pH of below 3.5.