What type of acid is formed when nitrogen oxides dissolve in rainwater?

When nitrogen oxides, specifically nitrogen dioxide (NO2), dissolve in rainwater, they react with water to form nitric acid (HNO3). This occurs through a series of chemical reactions where nitrogen dioxide reacts with water to form nitrous acid (HNO2), which can further oxidize to produce nitric acid.

The formation of nitric acid is significant in environmental chemistry, particularly concerning acid rain. Acid rain is a consequence of various oxides, including nitrogen oxides, entering the atmosphere and subsequently being deposited in rain, leading to a reduction in pH of natural water bodies, which can harm aquatic life and damage buildings and vegetation.

The other acids listed do not form from nitrogen oxides in this context. Sulfuric acid, for instance, is primarily a product of sulfur oxides, while hydrochloric acid comes from hydrogen chloride, which is unrelated to nitrogen oxides. Phosphoric acid is derived from phosphates and is not formed in this reaction. Thus, the correct option, nitric acid, is specifically linked to the dissolution of nitrogen oxides in rainwater.