Which gas produced by coal burning contributes to acid rain?

The gas produced by coal burning that contributes to acid rain is sulfur dioxide (SO2). When coal is burned, sulfur present in the coal combines with oxygen to form sulfur dioxide, which is released into the atmosphere. Once in the atmosphere, sulfur dioxide can react with water vapor, oxygen, and other substances to form sulfuric acid (H2SO4). This sulfuric acid then falls back to the ground as acid rain, which can lead to significant environmental damage, including harm to aquatic ecosystems, soil degradation, and damage to buildings and infrastructure.

Understanding the chemical processes involved, it’s clear that sulfur dioxide plays a pivotal role in the formation of acid rain, making it essential to control emissions from coal burning to mitigate its environmental impact.