Acid rain is caused by which ions?

Study for the Water, Air, Energy, and Waste Management for Environmental Sustainability Test. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Acid rain is caused by which ions?

Explanation:
Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere react with water in clouds to make sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids dissolve in rainwater and dissociate into sulfate and nitrate ions, which are the species that make the precipitation acidic. Chloride ions come from other sources and don’t drive the acidity in typical acid rain, and while ammonium can be present in aerosols, the main acidifying ions are sulfate and nitrate. So the ions responsible for acid rain are sulfate and nitrate.

Acid rain forms when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides released into the atmosphere react with water in clouds to make sulfuric and nitric acids. These acids dissolve in rainwater and dissociate into sulfate and nitrate ions, which are the species that make the precipitation acidic. Chloride ions come from other sources and don’t drive the acidity in typical acid rain, and while ammonium can be present in aerosols, the main acidifying ions are sulfate and nitrate. So the ions responsible for acid rain are sulfate and nitrate.

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