Why Does Acid Rain Attack Marble Statues

When the sulfur dioxide dissolves in the water in the clouds it makes acid rain rainwater that is more acidic than normal.

Why does acid rain attack marble statues.

But it will dissolve in the large amount of water during the process of the degradation of the caco3 caused by acid rain. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. Acid rain contains carbonic nitric and sulfuric acid that are produced by oxidation and dissolution in water of gaseous oxides co 2 no 2 and so 2 present in the air as chemical pollutants. Statues damaged by acid rain the three main acidic gases responsible for lowering the ph of rainwater are non metal oxides produced by the burning of fossil fuels like coal oil and natural gas.

When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. Acid rain has also attacked the chiseled words on some tombstones rendering them unreadable. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details. A major concern motivating research in acid rain materials effects has been the potential for damage to cultural heritage particularly outdoor marble and bronze sculpture.

How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. Acid rain erosion of limestone and marble can result in a loss of artwork outdoor statues monuments plaques etc that cannot be recovered. And also write the formula equation for the reaction between sulfuric acid and calcium carbonate. This increases the cost of maintaining buildings.

Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. Acid rains are one of the main degradation agents for marble artifacts. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways.

Why does acid rain dissolve statues made of marble. Old statues monuments and tombstones are vulnerable to acid rain because they were made of limestone. How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. Over decades of exposure to acid rain the details of a statue can be lost slowly turning them into featureless blobs.

Why does acid rain dissolve statues made of marble caco3. Acid rain on marble. Acid rain harms fish and trees but it also makes chemical weathering. However a combination of field and laboratory studies has failed to show a correlation between rain ph and loss of materials.