Acid rain

[Melody Haratian 2J]

Hi guys!
Does anyone know what we should specifically know about acid rain? Do we have to understand the chemical formulas for different nonmetal oxides that react with H2O to produce acid rain?

[TrishaP_3E]

I think we just have to know when acid rain is especially acidic (after forest fires, burning of sulfur)
And then the reactions, CO2+ H2O --> H2CO3
SO2+ H2O --> H2SO3
Sulfur makes a stronger acid than carbon dioxide, so it is more dangerous.

Hope this helps :)

[mehaksk]

Acid rain is primarily caused by sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) from fossil fuel combustion. These gases react with water and oxygen in the atmosphere to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3), respectively, leading to acid rain. I think these are the equations we need to know:

For sulfur dioxide:
SO2(g) + H2O(l) → H2SO3(aq)
H2SO3(aq) + 1/2O2(g) → H2SO4(aq)

For nitrogen oxides:
NO(g) + 1/2O2(g) → NO2(g)
2NO2(g) + H2O(l) → HNO3(aq) + NO(g)