7.56 How is SO₂ an air pollutant?

<p><strong>7.56</strong></p><p>SO₂ is a highly irritating gas and causes serious respiratory problems, and may cause a fit of coughing.</p><p><strong>1.</strong> It reacts with water vapour present in the atmosphere to form sulphuric acid. This causes acid rain. Acid rain damages soil [soil become more acidic], plants, and buildings get corroded, especially those made of marble.</p><p>In the air, SO₂ is oxidized to SO₃ which is also an irritant.</p><p>2SO₂ + O₂&nbsp; 2SO₃ SO₃ + H₂O H₂SO₄</p><p><strong>2.</strong> Even in very low concentrations, SO₂ causes irritation in the respiratory It causes throat and eye irritation and can also affect the larynx to cause breathlessness.</p><p><strong>3. </strong>It is extremely harmful to plants. Plants exposed to sulphur dioxide for a prolong time lose colour from their This condition is known as chlorosis. This is because the formation of chlorophyll is retarded in presence of sulphur dioxide.</p>

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