Acid rain is due to air pollution by

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UPPSC Civil Service 2013 Official Paper 1
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  1. Carbon dioxide
  2. Carbon monoxide
  3. Methane
  4. Nitrous oxide and Sulphur dioxide

Answer (Detailed Solution Below)

Option 4 : Nitrous oxide and Sulphur dioxide
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The correct answer is Nitrous oxide and Sulphur dioxide.

Key Points

  • Acid Rain:-
    • Acid rain is the rainfall that has been acidified.
    • It is formed when oxides of sulfur and nitrogen react with the moisture in the atmosphere.
    • It is rain with a pH of less than 5.6.
    • Acid rain is particularly damaging to lakes, streams, and forests and the plants and animals that live in these ecosystems.

Important Points

  • Sources of compounds causing acid rain:-
    • Natural sources:-
      • Seas and oceans,
      • volcanic eruptions,
      • Biological processes in the soil e.g., Decomposition of organic matter.
    • Man-made sources:-
      • Burning of coal (60% of SO2) and
      • Petroleum products (30% of SO2), and the smelting of metal sulfide ores to obtain the pure metals.
      • Industrial production of Sulfuric acid in metallurgical.
      • Chemical and fertilizer industries.
    • Natural sources:-
      • Lightening,
      • volcanic eruption.
      • Biological activity. 

Net - Acid Rain Cycle

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