Chemical reactions such as these play a dominant role in determining the nature, transport, and fate of acid precipitation. As the result of such reactions the chemical properties (acidity, ability to react with other substances) and physical properties (volatility, solubility) of acidic atmospheric pollutants are altered drastically. For example, even the small fraction of NO that does dissolve in water does not react significantly. However, its ultimate oxidation product, HNO3, though volatile, is highly water-soluble, strongly acidic, and very reactive with other materials. Therefore, it tends to be removed readily from the atmosphere and to do a great deal of harm to plants, corrodible materials, and other things that it contacts.