Why Does Acid Rain Dissolve Statues Made Of Marble

That s why acid rain dissolves statues made of marble.

Why does acid rain dissolve statues made of marble. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. Caco3 s h2so4 aq caso4 aq co2 g h2o l caso4 is pretty insoluble stuff but it will dissolve in the large amount of water during the process of the degradation of the caco3 caused by acid rain. Not only does acid rain aggressively dissolve calcium in stone but it corrodes certain types of metal. A study in the journal water air and soil pollution by the university of hong kong reported that artificial acid rain with a ph of 3 5 could corrode.

No one expects the washington monument to melt into a toothpick but acid rain damage may slowly add up for our beloved icons. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened. How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

The acids in acid rains can react with caco by producing soluble salts. The marble has caco as the major component. Many monuments are made from limestone marble and bronze materials that can be altered or slowly dissolved by acid precipitation. Slowly is the key word of course.

Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. The reaction between caco and h so acid is caco s h so aq caso aq co g h o l caso is slightly soluble in water.