Why Does Acid Rain Dissolve Statues Made Of Marble

How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings.

Why does acid rain dissolve statues made of marble.

Vulnerable metals include bronze copper nickel zinc and certain types of steel. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways.

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. That s why acid rain dissolves statues made of marble. 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. Many monuments are made from limestone marble and bronze materials that can be altered or slowly dissolved by acid precipitation.

In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened. Slowly is the key word of course. The acids in acid rains can react with caco by producing soluble salts. 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.

When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. No one expects the washington monument to melt into a toothpick but acid rain damage may slowly add up for our beloved icons.