Question

Which of the following gases will not cause acid rain?
A.\[\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\]
B.\[\text{N}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\]
C.\[\text{C}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\]
D.\[{{\text{O}}_{3}}\]

Answer 1

Hint:Gases with an acidic nature, those which dissolve in water to form acids will cause acid rain. These gases are mostly the oxides of non-metals.

Complete step by step solution:
\[\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\] - Sulphur dioxide is an acidic gas that is soluble in water and forms the mild acid called “sulphurous acid” with the molecular formula ${{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}\text{S}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}$.
\[\text{N}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\] - Nitrogen Dioxide is also an acidic that that dissolves in water to give nitric acid with the formula $\text{HN}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}$
\[\text{C}{{\text{O}}_{2}}\] - Carbon Dioxide is a mildly acidic oxide that dissolves in water to give the weak carbonic acid with the formula ${{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}}\text{C}{{\text{O}}_{\text{3}}}$, but this acid is unstable and readily dissociates to give water and carbon dioxide back.
\[{{\text{O}}_{3}}\] - Ozone is not an acidic oxide. It decomposes in water to form hydroxyl radicals and depending upon the nature of the dissolved matter, a chain reaction can be initiated in which different impurities in water are scavenged.
Hence, in all the above options, only ozone is not acidic.

So, the correct answer is option D.

Note:
Acid rain is the phenomenon that is caused due to the dissolution of the acidic gases in the condensed rain water before they fall on earth. Acidic rain is very harmful for the living as well as the non-living beings. Different limestone monuments have been corroded due to the reaction of the acidic raid with the basic limestone. This also damages our skin if it falls on our skin and dries out the texture.