Acid rain contains a huge numbers of hydrogen ions, which are positively charged and highly reactive. When these enter the ecosystem, they displace calcium, magnesium, and potassium ions. The displaced minerals then bond with negatively charged sulfate ions and are washed out of the ecosystem.
因為酸雨內含許多帶正電的氫離子，因其吸附力較強，進入生態系後會取代原本鈣、鎂、鉀等正電離子的位置；這些被釋出的正電離子，又會與帶負電的硫酸根離子結合而離開原有的生態系。