The clouds of Venus - Sulfuric acid by the lead chamber process

The Pioneer Venus atmospheric probe provided new data on the clouds of Venus. A model consistent with this data involves SO2 being oxidized to H2SO4 by NO(x) in the presence of H2O. NO(x) also forms nitrosylsulfuric acid (NOHSO4) dissolved in the H2SO4 droplets. This acid solution, along with SO2 and perhaps NO2, can explain the UV and visible reflection spectrum of Venus. In the middle and lower clouds, NOHSO4 forms solid particles.