Question

State whether true or false :

Rain water is a non-conductor of electricity.

• A. True
• B. False

Answer 1

The correct option is B False

False.

Rain water is a conductor of electricity due to The most common one is carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide itself in not an electrolyte, but it reacts with water to make what is often called "carbonic acid". Carbonic acid is actually a fictitious acid, since there are no molecules of $H_2{CO}_3$ in aqueous solution. But what is present that makes rain water a conductor are $H^{+}$ and $HC{O}^{3-}$ ions.

$C{O}_2$(aq) $+$ $H_{2}O$(l) <==> $H^{+}$ $+$ $HC{O}^{3-}$
$1000$ years ago, that would have pretty much been it. But today we have lots more pollutants in the air that contribute to acid rain and to the conductivity of rainwater. $S{O}_3$ dissolves in water to make $H_{2}S{O}_4$, which exists as $H^{+}$ and $HS{O}^{4-}$ ions. $N_2{O}_5$ dissolves in water to make $HN{O}_3$, which exists in water as $H^{+}$ and $N{O}^{3-}$. These are but a few of the substances that can produce the ions in solution that will make rainwater a conductor.