Describe how sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide emissions contribute to acid rain?

Question

Describe how sulfur dioxide and sulfur trioxide emissions contribute to acid rain?

Answer 1

They form sulfuric acid in the atmosphere through a process called Hydrolysis:

Sulfur dioxide dissolves in water and then, like carbon dioxide, hydrolyses in a series of equilibrium reactions:

SO2 (g)+ H2O ⇌ SO2·H2O

SO2·H2O ⇌ H++HSO3-

HSO3- ⇌ H++SO32-