Why is nitrogen dioxide considered a secondary pollutant?

Nitrogen dioxide and other nitrogen oxides react with other chemicals in the air to form other pollutants, known as secondary pollutants. These secondary pollutants include ozone, particulate matter, acid rain and other toxic chemicals.

Why is acid rain a secondary pollution?

Examples of a secondary pollutant include ozone, which is formed when hydrocarbons (HC) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) combine in the presence of sunlight; NO2, which is formed when NO combines with oxygen in the air; and acid rain, which is formed when sulfur dioxide or nitrogen oxides react with water.

Is acid rain a secondary pollution?

Secondary pollutants are formed when primary pollutants emitted directly from a combustion process react in the atmosphere. Primary pollutants include ammonia, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. Secondary pollutants include ground-level ozone, acid rain, and nutrient-enriching compounds.

Is nitrogen monoxide a primary pollutant?

The amount of nitrogen oxides emitted into the atmosphere as air pollution from both anthropogenic sources can be quite significant. It is mainly produced by road traffic and energy production. While NO2 is a primary pollutant, it is also a contributing component to secondary pollutants formed from a chemical reaction.

Nitrogen oxides are formed by the reaction of nitrogen and oxygen gases in the air during combustion, especially at high temperatures. At normal temperatures, oxygen and nitrogen gases do not react together. Nitrogen oxides are produced naturally from a lightning strike.

Is nitrogen gas an air pollutant?

Nitrogen dioxide, or NO2, is an air pollutant made up of nitrogen and oxygen and is one of a group of related gases called nitrogen oxides, or NOx. NO2 and other nitrogen oxides in the outdoor air contribute to particulate pollution and to the chemical reactions that form ozone.

What are the secondary pollutants of nitrogen dioxide?

What are the pollutants that cause acid rain?

Power plants release most of the sulfur dioxide and much of the nitrogen oxides when they burn fossil fuels, such as coal, to produce electricity. In addition, the exhaust from cars, trucks and buses releases nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide into the air. These pollutants cause acid rain.

What is the other form of air pollution?

Answer- The other form of air pollution is particles like smoke, dust, fly ash and fogs. The pollutants are further classified as primary pollutants and secondary pollutants. … The production of PAN during photochemical reactions is an example of secondary pollutants. 2) Which are the most harmful primary or secondary pollutants?

How are sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides related to acid rain?

Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides dissolve very easily in water and can be transported very far by the wind. As a result, the two compounds can travel long distances, becoming part of the rain, sleet, snow and fog that we experience on certain days. Human activities are the main cause of acid rain.