Question:
"Acid rain" is formed due to contributions of the following pair of gases.
"Acid rain" is formed due to contributions of the following pair of gases.
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Acid rain typically has a pH of $4.2$ to $4.4$, which is significantly more acidic than clean rain, which has a normal pH of around $5.6$ due to dissolved carbon dioxide.
Updated On: Jul 21, 2026
- Oxygen and nitrous oxide
- Nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide
- Carbon dioxide and sulphur dioxide
- Methane and ozone
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The Correct Option is B
Solution and Explanation
Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Acid rain refers to any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Acid rain is primarily caused by two air pollutants: Sulfur Dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) and Nitrogen Oxides ($\text{NO}_x$).
These gases are emitted into the atmosphere by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels in power plants, industrial factories, and motor vehicles.
Once in the atmosphere, these gases react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form weak acids:
- Sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) reacts to form sulfuric acid ($\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$).
- Nitrogen oxides ($\text{NO}_x$) react to form nitric acid ($\text{HNO}_3$).
These acids mix with rain, snow, fog, or dust and fall to the ground as acid precipitation, lowering the pH of soils and water bodies.
Acid rain damages forest foliage, leaches essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium from forest soils, and releases toxic aluminum, which harms both trees and aquatic ecosystems.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The gases responsible for the formation of acid rain are nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, corresponding to option (B).
Acid rain refers to any form of precipitation with acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, that fall to the ground from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms.
Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
Acid rain is primarily caused by two air pollutants: Sulfur Dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) and Nitrogen Oxides ($\text{NO}_x$).
These gases are emitted into the atmosphere by human activities, such as burning fossil fuels in power plants, industrial factories, and motor vehicles.
Once in the atmosphere, these gases react with water vapor, oxygen, and other chemicals to form weak acids:
- Sulfur dioxide ($\text{SO}_2$) reacts to form sulfuric acid ($\text{H}_2\text{SO}_4$).
- Nitrogen oxides ($\text{NO}_x$) react to form nitric acid ($\text{HNO}_3$).
These acids mix with rain, snow, fog, or dust and fall to the ground as acid precipitation, lowering the pH of soils and water bodies.
Acid rain damages forest foliage, leaches essential nutrients like calcium and magnesium from forest soils, and releases toxic aluminum, which harms both trees and aquatic ecosystems.
Step 3: Final Answer:
The gases responsible for the formation of acid rain are nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide, corresponding to option (B).
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