CHEMISTRY COMMUNITY

What exactly causes acidic rain to form? Why is it possible for rain to be acidic?

Acidic rain forms from sulfur dioxide and nitrogen are released in to the air (as from coal power plants) and interact with water or oxygen.

This value is considered neutral—neither acidic or basic. Normal, clean rain has a pH value of between 5.0 and 5.5, which is slightly acidic. However, when rain combines with sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides—produced from power plants and automobiles—the rain becomes much more acidic.

The water molecules in rain react with pollutants in the air and becomes acidic in nature

One more thing to know is that rain is normally acidic, and the acid rain is when rain is too acidic (more than normal).

Mainly caused by chemicals like SO4^2- and NO3- coming from burning fossil fuels, such as coal.

It is possible for rain to be acidic because as it falls from the atmosphere, it collects impurities which change the pH of the rain water to be acidic or alkaline.

SO2 reacts with water vapor to form acidic rain. (SO2 comes from burning petroleum products, coal, etc.)
SO2(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO3(aq)

Is acid rain formed from SO2 or SO4?

SO2 as it results from fossil fuel combustion

is this info necessary for the test?

Acid rain occurs when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released in the air and react chemically with water, oxygen, and other pollutants in the air.

Acid rain is formed when pollutants in the air such as sulfur dioxide combine with water, causing the pH of rain to decrease and become more acidic.

Thank you, these responses helped to clarify alot

What would be some of the environmental impacts of acid rain. Will we be asked about its effects or do we just need to know the reaction.

I don't think we need to know its impact on the environment. We just need to know the chemical equations associated with it and that the primary acid in acid rain is carbonic acid.

H2O (l) + CO2 (g) ⇌ H2CO3 (aq)
H2O can also interact with other compounds such as So4 to result in acid rain as well.

there are pollutants in the air including SO2, NO3-, CO2 which are caused by coal power plants, etc. These pollutants react with water or oxygen and produce acid rain.

ex: SO2 + H2O---> H2SO3

also I am not sure if we need to memorize this but acid rain has a pH value around 4 (please correct me if I am wrong)

When rain reacts with pollutants in the air (sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides), it becomes acidic.

When water reacts with pollutants it becomes acidic.

Acid rain is created when compounds like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide are released into the air and mix with substances like H2O, O2, etc. These form acidic pollutants in the form of acid rain.

Actually, in regards to someone who asked if this was going to be on test, it was not, at least the version I took. Hope that helps!

CO2, SO2, and NO2 are all pollutants that react with water to form slightly acidic solutions. CO2 produces carbonic acid, which has a slightly higher pH than the sulfurous acid and nitric acid that's formed by SO2 and NO2. So these acidic solutions act as acid rain in the real world.

Acid rain is formed when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released from factories or homes and come in contact with rain/condensation causing the water to become acidified.