Question

Which of the following is present in maximum in acid rain?
1. HCl
2. H₂NO₃
3. H₂SO₄
4. H₂CO₃
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : H₂SO₄

The correct answer is H₂SO₄.

• Sulphuric acid is the main constituent of acid rain.
• Acid rain:
  • Acid rain, also called acid precipitation or acid deposition, is precipitation possessing a pH of about 5.2 or below primarily produced from the emission of sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides from human activities, mostly the combustion of fossil fuels.
  • In acid-sensitive landscapes, acid deposition can reduce the pH of surface waters and lower biodiversity.
  • It weakens trees and increases their susceptibility to damage from other stressors, such as drought, extreme cold, and pests.
  • In acid-sensitive areas, acid rain also depletes the soil of important plant nutrients and buffers, such as calcium and magnesium, and can release aluminium, bound to soil particles and rock, in its toxic dissolved form.
  • Acid rain contributes to the corrosion of surfaces exposed to air pollution and is responsible for the deterioration of limestone and marble buildings and monuments.
  • Many air pollution and atmospheric deposition problems are intertwined with one another, and these problems are often derived from the same cause, namely the burning of fossil fuels.