Question

Give reasons for the following.

Coal-fired thermal power plants are chiefly responsible for acid rain.

Answer 1

Coal-fired thermal power plants are chiefly responsible for acid rain because:

1. Burning coal releases sulphur dioxide (SO₂) and other sulphur compounds into the atmosphere.
2. Coal combustion also produces nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) at high temperatures.
3. These gases react with oxygen and water vapour in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid and nitric acid.
4. These acids mix with rainwater and fall to the Earth as acid rain.
5. Therefore, coal-fired thermal power plants are a major contributor to acid rain.