Which of the following acids is most abundant in acid rain ?

Options

A. HCI
B. `HNO_(3)`
C. `H_(2)SO_(4)`
D. Organic acids

Answer

To determine which acid is most abundant in acid rain, we can follow these steps:

### Step 1: Identify the acids present in acid rain
Acid rain primarily consists of two main acids: sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) and nitric acid (HNO₃).

**Hint:** Remember that acid rain is formed from the reaction of certain gases with water vapor in the atmosphere.

### Step 2: Understand the formation of sulfuric acid
Sulfuric acid is formed when sulfur dioxide (SO₂) gas reacts with water vapor in the atmosphere. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{SO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \]

**Hint:** Focus on the sources of sulfur dioxide in the environment, such as fossil fuel combustion.

### Step 3: Understand the formation of nitric acid
Nitric acid is formed from nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) when they react with water. The reaction can be represented as:
\[ \text{NO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \rightarrow \text{HNO}_3 \]

**Hint:** Consider the sources of nitrogen oxides, which can include vehicle emissions and industrial processes.

### Step 4: Compare the abundance of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides
Sulfur dioxide is generally more abundant in the atmosphere compared to nitrogen oxides. This is because sulfur dioxide is not significantly consumed by plants or microorganisms, while nitrogen oxides can be absorbed and utilized by them.

**Hint:** Think about the natural processes that affect the concentration of these gases in the environment.

### Step 5: Determine which acid is more acidic
Sulfuric acid is more acidic than nitric acid. This means that even if both acids are present, the higher acidity of sulfuric acid contributes more significantly to the overall acidity of acid rain.

**Hint:** Recall the pH scale and how acidity is measured.

### Conclusion
Based on the above analysis, the most abundant acid in acid rain is sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄).

**Final Answer:** Sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is the most abundant acid in acid rain.