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Acid rain continues to be a problem - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 36 - 2017 - Paper 1
Question 36
Acid rain continues to be a problem. Which statements about acid rain are correct? 1. Acid rain is formed when oxides of nitrogen or oxides of sulfur react with wa... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Acid rain continues to be a problem - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 36 - 2017 - Paper 1
Step 1
1. Acid rain is formed when oxides of nitrogen or oxides of sulfur react with water in the atmosphere.
Answer
This statement is correct. Acid rain is primarily caused by the reaction of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) with water vapor in the atmosphere, resulting in the formation of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃).
Step 2
2. Acid rain causes an increase in the concentration of heavy metal ions in water courses.
Answer
This statement is also correct. The acidity of rainwater can lead to the leaching of heavy metals such as lead and mercury from the soil into water bodies, increasing their concentration in water courses.
Step 3
3. Nitrogen dioxide will catalyse the formation of SO₃ from SO₂ in the atmosphere.
Answer
This statement is correct. Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) can act as a catalyst in the oxidation of sulfur dioxide (SO₂) to sulfur trioxide (SO₃), particularly in sunlight, facilitating further acid formation.