text: what can you do to prevent acid rain?   reducing air pollution (no2 and so2 emissions in particularly) will help prevent acid rain.  acid rain refers to rain which contained nitric acid (hno3) and/or sulfuric acid (h2so4) dissolved in it, hence its name. when nitrogen dioxide gas (no2) and sulfur dioxide gas (so2) dissolve in water, they form very strong and corrosive acids.  these two gasses are minor byproducts of the combustion of fossil fuels due to impurities in the fuel.  when these gasses dissolve in rain water, the rain becomes acetic and can damage things on the ground.  reducing air pollution is a major step in preventing acid rain.