Question

What are the effects of acid rain?

Answer 1

It causes diseases in humans and damages the plants' leaves.

Explanation:

Air pollution is a result of sulfur dioxide `(SO_2)` combining with water `(H_2O)` to form sulfurous acid `(H_2SO_3)`. The chemical reaction for this is:

`SO_2(g)+H_2O(l)->H_2SO_3(aq)`

Another similar reaction is as follows:

`SO_2(g)+O_2(g)->SO_3(g)`

`SO_3(g)+H_2O(l)->H_2SO_4(aq)`

Another factor of air pollution are nitrogen oxides `(NO_x)`. Most common ones are nitric oxide `(NO)` and nitrogen dioxide `(NO_2)`. The latter contributes to photochemical smog, a mixture of UV sunlight with nitrogen oxides, and also forms ozone `(O_3)`. This can affect the respiratory system by a lot, and can cause damage to the lungs.

The chemical reaction for this is:

`N_2(g)+O_2(g)->2NO(g)`

`2NO(g)+O_2(g)->2NO_2(g)`

The following reactions occur at relatively high temperatures and pressures, such as during the presence of lightning.

For acid rain, the chemical equation is

`2NO_2(g)+H_2O(l)->HNO_2(aq)+HNO_3(aq)`

For plants, acid rain damages their leaves, which doesn't allow them to take more nutrients. Also, it might damage the soil they are in, which lowers the `pH` of the soil, and lime (calcium hydroxide or calcium oxide) might be needed to neutralize it.