Why Does Acid Rain Causes Damage To Marble Statues

In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

Why does acid rain causes damage to marble statues. Not only does acid rain aggressively dissolve calcium in stone but it corrodes certain types of metal. Acid rain stains and etches granite and corrodes metals like bronze. Acid rain is a rain or any other form of precipitation that is unusually acidic meaning that it has elevated levels of hydrogen ions low ph it can have harmful effects on plants aquatic animals and infrastructure. Many severe effects of air pollution on materials and structures come from acid rain.

Vulnerable metals include bronze copper nickel zinc and certain types of steel. Thus acid rain can easily destroy the details on relief work e g the faces on a statue but generally does not affect the structural integrity of the building. Acid rain dissolves limestone marble cement and sandstone. This process occurs at the surface of the buildings or monuments.

Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. Acid rain is caused by emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide which react with the water molecules in the atmosphere to produce acids. The degree of damage is determined not only by the acidity of the rainwater but also by the amount of water flow.

How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened.