Why Does Acid Rain Cause Damage To Marble Statues

Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive.

Why does acid rain cause damage to marble statues.

Acid rain can ruin buildings and statues by stripping away the material and corroding metal that makes up these structures. A lot of buildings and statues are made of basic alkaline materials such as limestone. 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 surfaces removal of material and loss of carved stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive.

The carbonic acid further breaks down into water and carbon dioxide. When sulfuric acid rain strikes these statues the reaction of the sulfuric acid with the calcium carbonate yields calcium sulfate and carbonic acid. And nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. The acids in acid rains can react with caco by producing soluble salts.

Acid deposition can be caused by natural sources such as volcanoes but it is mainly caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion when these gases are discharged into the atmosphere they react with the water oxygen and other gases already present there to form sulfuric acid ammonium nitrate and nitric acid. That s why acid rain dissolves statues made of marble. What causes acid rain. Architects chose limestone marble steel and brass as durable materials intended to resist the elements.

Those acids are made by dissolving the components in water which are from oxidation of the gases such as so no and co. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.