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Two gases will contribute to acid rain:

  • SO2 (sulfur dioxide) will make sulfuric (or sulfurous) acid
  • NOx (oxides of nitrogen from combustion) will make nitric acid

The main sources of pollution are from coal power stations and factories.

These gases dissolve in the atmospheric water which is released on the ground as acid rain, causing damage on forests and lakes.

Acid precipitation is formed when sulfur oxides (SOx) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emitted from coal fired power plants and mines (processing ores with a high content of sulfur) are absorbed by water droplets. This forms sulfurous/sulfuric and nitrous/nitric acids. Some of the sulfurous acid can be transformed into sulfuric acid. The chemistry:

Sulfur dioxide and water form sulfurous acid (H2SO3)

  • SO2(g) + H2O(l) ⇄ H2SO3(aq) In some cases sulfur dioxide (SO2) oxidizes to sulfur trioxide (SO3)
  • 2SO2(g) + O2(g) → 2SO3(g) The sulfur trioxide (SO3) then combines with water making sulfuric acid (H2SO4)
  • SO3(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO4(aq) Some oxides of nitrogen like nitrogen dioxide (NO2) react with water to form nitrous acid (HNO2) and nitric acid (HNO3)
  • 2NO2(g) + H2O(l) → HNO2(aq) + HNO3(aq)
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What does pollution in the air have to mix with to form acid rain?

Pollution in the air, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides, mixes with water vapor to form acid rain. When these pollutants in the atmosphere react with rainwater, they create acidic compounds like sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which then fall to the ground as acid rain.


Can volcanoes make acid rain Yes or no?

Yes, volcanoes can contribute to acid rain by releasing sulfur dioxide and other pollutants into the atmosphere, which can react with water vapor to form sulfuric acid.


How do we make our soil and lakes safe from acid rain?

To make soil and lakes safe from acid rain, we can reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acid rain by implementing cleaner technologies in industries and transportation. Additionally, we can use methods like liming to neutralize the acidity in soil and lakes affected by acid rain. Regular monitoring of soil and water quality can also help identify areas that need attention.


Is acid rain an outdoor pollutant?

Yes, acid rain is an outdoor pollutant. It is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere and react with water vapor, forming acidic compounds that fall back to Earth as rain or snow.


Can smoke from factories cause acid rain?

Yes, smoke from factories can contribute to the formation of acid rain. When sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides in the smoke combine with water vapor in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, leading to acid rain. This acid rain can harm ecosystems, damage buildings, and affect water quality.

Related Questions

Why countries that do not produce acid rain still can suffter from it?

Because the gasses that eventually cause acid rain are everywhere in the atmosphere and clouds. As wind patterns move over the earth, they carry these gasses everywhere they go. The rain falls where it will. The acid rain gasses could come from hundreds or thousands of miles away.


What gasses cause acid rain?

Sulfuric acid, smog, and the CO2 in the water reacts with those.


Is there acetic acid in acid rain?

No. Acid rain is made form CO2, NO2 and SO2 gasses in the air mixing with water in the air to form Carbonic, Nitric and Sulfuric acids.


What does acid rain do to dirt?

acid rain make dirt softer


What gasses are produced while burning charcoal?

Sulphur Dioxide and then that often mixes with water vapoud to produce Suphuric Acid (Acid Rain)


What substance is mixed with rain to make acid rain?

Acid rain is formed when moisture in the atmosphere combines with nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides to make nitric acid and sulfuric acid respectively.


Which gases in the air cause acid rain?

The main gases in the air that cause acid rain are sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). When these gases react with water vapor in the atmosphere, they form sulfuric acid and nitric acid, which can then fall to the ground as acid rain.


Does acid rain make iron rust?

There is no such thing as acid rain but you can make drops of acid depending on its pH level on top of iron.


How does acid rain affect your roads?

Acid rain may cause a tiny bit more wear on roads - especially those made of concrete. The findings over the past several years also show that acid rain reduces the amount of greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere. The greenhouse gasses, remember, are a large part of what keeps us from becoming one big, round block of ice.


Slogan for acid rain?

pollution goes up into the sky, then the acid rain will make you cry.


What kind of acid is in acid rain?

There are two possible types of acid in acid rain. 1) The acid formed from Carbon Dioxide (from natural Carbon Dioxide in air, from man burning fossil fuels and from volcanic gasses); Carbonic Acid 2) The acid formed from Sulfur Dioxide (from man burning fossil fuels and from volcanic gasses); Sulfuric Acid.


Machanism of formation of acid rain?

Water (vapor) plus certain gasses combine to form acids: for example - CO2 plus water gives carbonic acid, sulfur gasses plus water gives all the relatives of sulfuric acid. Note that all rain tends to be acid - but the more extreme cases are called acid rain.