Question

The acidity in the rain is due to the presence of:

• A. $H_2{SO}_4$
• B. $H_2{SO}_3$
• C. ${HNO}_3$
• D. all of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (D)

all of the above

The pollutants in the atmosphere like ${SO}_2,{NO}_{2}and{CO}_2$ (known as sulphur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide) are present in atmosphere due to industrial and vehicular pollution. They combine with rain water to form sulphuric acid ($H_{2}S{O}_4$) , nitric acid ($H{NO}_3$) and carbonic acid ($H_2{CO}_3$) respectively. Equations are as follows:

$H_{2}O+{SO}_2\to H_2{SO}_3$ (Sulphurous acid)

$H_{2}O+{SO}_3\to H_2{SO}_4$ (Sulphuric acid)

$H_{2}O+{NO}_2\to H{NO}_3$ (Nitric acid)

$H_{2}O+{CO}_2\to H_2{CO}_3$ (Carbonic acid)