Chapter 18, Problem 12RCQ

What does sulfur dioxide have to do with acid rain?

To determine

Role of sulfur dioxide in the rain water should be explained

Answer to Problem 12RCQ

Solution

           $\begin{array}{l}{\text{2SO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{SO}}_{\begin{array}{l}\text{3}\\ \end{array}}\\ \text{Sulfur}\text{oxygen}\text{sulfur}\\ \text{dioxide}\text{trioxide}\\ \\ {\text{So}}_{\text{3}}\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\to {\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\\ \text{Sulfur}\text{water}\text{sulfuric}\text{acid}\\ \text{trioxide}\end{array}$

Explanation of Solution

• Rain water is naturally acidic
• Source of acidity of rain water is carbon dioxide
• The atmosphere contains about 3100 billion ton of ${\text{CO}}_{\text{2}}$
• Acid rain is term used rain with a pH lower than 5
• Acid rain is created when airborne pollutant, such as sulfur dioxide are absorbed by atmospheric moisture

Acid rain is created when airborne pollutant, such as sulfur dioxide are absorbed by atmospheric moisture

$\begin{array}{l}{\text{2SO}}_{\text{2}}\text{+}{\text{O}}_{\text{2}}\to {\text{SO}}_{\begin{array}{l}\text{3}\\ \end{array}}\\ \text{Sulfur}\text{oxygen}\text{sulfur}\\ \text{dioxide}\text{trioxide}\\ \\ {\text{So}}_{\text{3}}\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\to {\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\\ \text{Sulfur}\text{water}\text{sulfuric}\text{acid}\\ \text{trioxide}\end{array}$

Rain water is naturally acidic. Source of acidity of rain water is carbon dioxide. Acid rain is term used rain with a pH lower than 5. Acid rain is created when airborne pollutant, such as sulfur dioxide are absorbed by atmospheric moisture. Sulfur dioxide react with moisture and sulfur trioxide is formed. This sulfur trioxide react with water and sulfuric acid is formed. Sulfuric acid is stronger than carbonic acid

Conclusion

Role of sulfur dioxide in the rain water is explained