Question

Select the oxides responsible for acid rain.

• A. Sulphur dioxide
• B. Carbon dioxide
• C. Nitrogen dioxide
• D. Ozone

Answer 1

Answer: (A), (C)

Nitrogen dioxide

Acid rain is caused when sulphur dioxide, $S{O}_2$ and nitrogen oxides ($NO$ and $N{O}_2$) are released into the atmosphere and react with water particles in the rainwater to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid. These acids fall on to the ground as acid rain. While a small portion of the gases that cause acid rain is from natural sources such as volcanoes, most of it comes from the burning of fossil fuels and industries.