Question

Explain why the acids formed from NOx and SOx have a much greater effect on the pH of rainwater than carbonic acid (acid formed from CO₂) does

Answer 1

Acid rain is caused by the presence of gases such as CO₂ ,NO,and SO₂ in the polluted air which forms various acids that tends to lower down the pH of rainwater falling on earth and causes harm.

Though in rainwater the concnetration of CO₂ present is much higher than that of NO and SO₂ but CO₂ does not form acid i.e H₂CO₃ to much extent that being formed by NO and SO_2..Thus,a large increase in the concentation of NO and SO_{2 a}ffects the pH of rainwater to a much extent even though both the gases are present at low conc of CO₂.