Cations with major contributor

Table 15.3 shows typical major cations and anions in pH-4.25 precipitation. Although actual values encountered vary greatly with time and location of collection, this table does show some major features of ionic solutes in precipitation. The predominance of sulfate anion shows that sulfuric acid is the major contributor to acid precipitation. Nitric acid makes a smaller, but significant, contribution to the acid present. Hydrochloric acid ranks third. 

---