Question

Write balanced chemical equation that describe the formation of nitric acid and sulphuric acid in rain, starting with sulphur in coal and the oxygen, nitrogen, and the water vapour in atmosphere.

Short answer

The balanced chemical equation is $2\mathrm{NO}+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to 2{\mathrm{HNO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2$. ${\mathrm{CO}}_2$produces

carbonic acid, which is a type of weak acid. Because its concentration in the air is barely 0.03 percent, its impact on the environment is insignificant. It is only ${\mathrm{SO}}_2$and${\mathrm{NO}}_2$compounds the real culprits of acid rain.

Step-by-step solution

Formation of Acid Rain

Acid rain, also known as acid deposition, is a general phrase that refers to any type of precipitation that contains acidic components, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, and falls from the atmosphere, moist or dry, to the ground.

Acidic rain, snow, fog, hail, and even dust can all contribute to this.

Acid decomposition

Acid rain, as well as other types of acidic wet deposition such as snow, sleet, hail, and fog, are examples of acid deposition (or cloud water).

Acid deposition is the term for the dry deposition of acidic particles and gases, which can have an impact on landscapes during dry periods.

Chemical equation for the formation of acid rain

When sulfur dioxide$\left({\mathrm{SO}}_2\right)$and nitrogen oxides (NOX) are released into the atmosphere and carried by wind and air currents, acid rain occurs.

Sulfuric and nitric acids are formed when${\mathrm{SO}}_2$and NOX combine with water, oxygen, and other molecules.

They descend to the ground after interacting with water and other things.

The balanced chemical equation is:

role="math" localid="1663560630005" $\begin{array}{rcl}\mathrm{Sulphurdioxide}+\mathrm{water}& \to & \mathrm{sulphurousacid}+\mathrm{hydrogen}\\ {\mathrm{SO}}_2+3{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}& \to & {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_3+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\end{array}$

$$\begin{gathered} \mathrm{Sulphurtrioxide}+\mathrm{water}\to \mathrm{sulphuricacid} \\ {\mathrm{SO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4 \\ \mathrm{Nitrogendioxide}+\mathrm{water}\to \mathrm{Nitricacid}+\mathrm{hydrogen} \\ 2{\mathrm{NO}}_2+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to 2{\mathrm{HNO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2 \end{gathered}$$

The balanced chemical equation is $2{\mathrm{NO}}_2+2{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\to 2{\mathrm{HNO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2$.