Which one of the following gases dissolves in water to give acidic

Which one of the following gases dissolves in water to give acidic solution?

Carbon dioxide

Oxygen

Nitrogen

Hydrogen

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This question was previously asked in

UPSC CDS-1 – 2018

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Carbon dioxide (CO₂) dissolves in water to form carbonic acid (H₂CO₃). Carbonic acid is a weak acid that partially dissociates into hydrogen ions (H⁺) and bicarbonate ions (HCO₃⁻), thus lowering the pH and making the solution acidic. The reaction is CO₂ + H₂O ⇌ H₂CO₃ ⇌ H⁺ + HCO₃⁻.

– An acidic solution is formed when a substance dissolves in water and increases the concentration of hydrogen ions (H⁺) or hydronium ions (H₃O⁺).
– Non-metal oxides, like carbon dioxide, often react with water to form acids.
– Oxygen, Nitrogen, and Hydrogen are non-polar or weakly polar molecules that dissolve in water but do not react chemically to produce acidic or basic solutions; they remain neutral.

The acidity of solutions of gases like CO₂ is important in various natural processes, such as the formation of acid rain (from oxides of sulfur and nitrogen) and the buffering system in blood involving carbonic acid and bicarbonate. The dissolution of CO₂ in oceans leads to ocean acidification.

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