How does air pollution impact

Question

chemical weathering?
Pollutants react with minerals
inside rocks and weaken
them.
Pollutants prevent carbon
from mixing with water.
Pollutants mix with air and
water to make acid rain.
Pollutants cover rocks with a
toxic layer that weakens them.

Answer 1

Air pollution significantly impacts chemical weathering primarily through the formation of acid rain. Specifically, the correct statement from your options is:

Pollutants mix with air and water to make acid rain.

When pollutants like sulfur dioxide (SO₂) and nitrogen oxides (NOₓ) are released into the atmosphere, they can react with water vapor to form acids (such as sulfuric acid and nitric acid). When it rains, these acids mix with rainwater, leading to acid rain, which can accelerate the chemical weathering process. Acid rain can attack and break down minerals in rocks, leading to their weakening and breakdown over time.