Question

Acid rain occurs when the atmosphere is heavily polluted with _______ and ______.

• A. ${\mathrm{SO}}_2$
• B. ${\mathrm{NO}}_{\mathrm{x}}$

Answer 1

• Acid Rain is defined as the precipitation of acid in the form of rain.
• When atmospheric pollutants like oxides of nitrogen (N) and sulfur (S) react with rainwater and come down with the rain, this results in acid rain.
• The causes of acid rain are sulfur and nitrogen particles which get mixed with the wet components of rain.
• The two strong acids present in acid rain are nitrogen oxide (NO_X) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
• These two gases react with water in the atmosphere and oxygen (O₂) in the air to form sulphuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃).

Therefore, acid rain occurs when the atmosphere is heavily polluted with SO₂ and NO_X.