EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Acid rain is caused by a chemical reaction that begins when compounds such as sulphur dioxide and oxides of nitrogen are released into the air. These substances can rise very high up into the atmosphere, where they mix and react with water, oxygen, and other chemicals to form more acidic pollutants called acid rain.

Detailed explanation-2: -Acid rain results when sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are emitted into the atmosphere and transported by wind and air currents. The SO2 and NOX react with water, oxygen and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acids.

Detailed explanation-3: -Atmospheric sulfur is found in the form of sulfur dioxide (SO2), and as rain falls through the atmosphere, sulfur is dissolved in the form of weak sulfuric acid (H2SO4).

Detailed explanation-4: -Acid rain is formed high up in the atmosphere when SO2 and NO2 combine with water and sunlight. When this reaction forms acid it falls to the ground in the form of acid rain or snow.

Detailed explanation-5: -When any of these oxides dissolve in water and decompose, they form nitric acid (HNO3) or nitrous acid (HNO2). Nitric acid forms nitrate salts when it is neutralized. Nitrous acid forms nitrite salts. Thus, NOx and its derivatives exist and react either as gases in the air, as acids in droplets of water, or as a salt.