Question

The Nitric acid is formed during the thunderstorm is a result of three chemical reactions. Write the balanced chemical equations involved.

Answer 1

Nitric acid

During thunder storm , rain water contain Nitric acid. During lightening discharge the Nitrogen in the atmosphere reacts with Oxygen to give Nitric oxide.

$$\begin{gathered} {\mathrm{N}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\rightleftharpoons 2{\mathrm{NO}}_{}\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ \left(\mathrm{Nitrogen}\right)\left(\mathrm{Oxygen}\right)(\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{oxide}) \end{gathered}$$

Nitric oxide is oxidized to Nitrogen dioxide.

$$\begin{gathered} 2\mathrm{NO}{\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}_{}+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)\rightleftharpoons 2{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ (\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{oxide})\left(\mathrm{Oxygen}\right)(\mathrm{Nitrogrn}\mathrm{dioxide}) \end{gathered}$$

The Nitrogen dioxide dissolves in atmospheric moisture in the presence of Oxygen and give Nitric acid which is washed done by the rain ,combines with the salt present on the earth.

.$$\begin{gathered} 2{\mathrm{NO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{HNO}}_3\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{HNO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right) \\ (\mathrm{Nitrogen}\mathrm{dioxide})\left(\mathrm{Water}\right)(\mathrm{Nitric}\mathrm{acid})(\mathrm{Nitrous}\mathrm{acid}) \end{gathered}$$

Hence Nitric acid is formed from Oxygen ,Water and Nitrogen dioxide.