Question

Explain the formation of acid rain due to:

Oxides of nitrogen

Answer 1

Oxides of nitrogen:
Nitric acid is formed by the combination of nitrogen and oxygen. Nitrogen and oxygen combine in the presence of thunder and lightning. Oxides of nitrogen are also produced by internal combustion engines.
\[\ce{N2 + O2 ->[Hightemperature]2NO}\]
Nitrogen oxide then gets oxidised in the atmosphere to nitrogen dioxide.
2NO + O₂ → 2NO₂
Nitrogen dioxide combines with water to form a mixture of nitrous acid and nitric acid.
2NO₂ + H₂O → HNO₂ + HNO₃