What is the process by which oxides of nitrogen lead to acid rain?

The process by which oxides of nitrogen contribute to acid rain primarily involves their ability to dissolve in rainwater, which leads to the formation of nitric acid. When nitrogen oxides, commonly produced from vehicle emissions and industrial processes, enter the atmosphere, they can react with water droplets in clouds. This reaction results in the formation of nitric acid (HNO3), a strong acid.

When rain occurs, this nitric acid is carried down with the precipitation, leading to the phenomenon known as acid rain. Acid rain can have harmful effects on ecosystems, buildings, and water sources, making it important to understand how these nitrogen oxides interact in the atmosphere.

The other options do not accurately describe the process regarding the formation of acid rain by nitrogen oxides. While solidifying in clouds or reacting with ozone may involve some atmospheric chemistry, it does not lead directly to acid rain in the same way that the dissolution of nitrogen oxides to form nitric acid does. Similarly, evaporation of nitrogen oxides does not contribute to acid rain; rather, it is their presence in a gaseous state prior to dissolution in rainwater that plays a key role.