What Is the Mystery of Base Rain and Why Don't We Hear About It?

Thread starter tandoorichicken
Start date Nov 13, 2004
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Mystery Rain

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The discussion centers on the concept of "base rain," which theoretically could occur if a gas with basic properties were to dissolve in rainwater and condense. Unlike acidic rain, which is formed when sulfur trioxide (SO3) dissolves in water to create sulfuric acid (H2SO4), base rain has not been observed or reported. The absence of base rain in meteorological discussions raises questions about the conditions necessary for its formation and why it remains largely unrecognized in scientific literature. The conversation highlights the chemical processes involved in rain formation and the dominance of acidic rain phenomena in environmental discussions.

Nov 13, 2004

tandoorichicken

Why isn't there such a thing as base rain? Or do we just never hear about it?

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Nov 13, 2004

chem_tr

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Gold Member

It is theoretically possible, in cases where a gas of a basic character is dissolved in rain water, and condensed to fall down. Acidic rain is that sulfur trioxide (SO₃) is dissolved in water, in the form of sulfuric acid, (H₂SO₄).

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