Burning coal that contains sulphur releases a gas that is a principal cause of acid rain. Which gas is it?

Carbon monoxideCorrect answerYour answerSulphur dioxideCorrect answerYour answerOzoneCorrect answerYour answerNitrogenCorrect answerYour answer

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CorrectNot quiteAnswer B

Correct answer: B

Sulphur in coal burns to sulphur dioxide, which enters the atmosphere with the flue gases.
There it reacts with water vapour to form sulphuric acid, which falls as acid rain.
Carbon monoxide is a product of incomplete burning and is toxic but not a major cause of acid rain; nitrogen itself is unreactive in air.

Worth noting

Oxides of nitrogen from vehicle engines are the other main contributor, which is why acid rain is associated with both power stations and traffic.

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