Acid Rain Reaction With Marble

The damage that acid rain does to limestone and marble buildings and sculptures is due to a classic acid base reaction.

Acid rain reaction with marble. Acid rains are one of the main degradation agents for marble artifacts. 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. What effect does acid rain have on marble. Students know how to use the ph scale to characterize acid and base solutions.

Marble and limestone both consist of calcium carbonate caco 3 a salt derived from the weak acid h 2 co 3. Although these are recognized as highly durable materials buildings and outdoor monuments made of marble and limestone are now being gradually eroded away by acid rain. Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. Acid rain effects on buildings acids have a corrosive effect on limestone or marble buildings or sculptures.

Acid rain can damage buildings historic monuments and statues especially those made of rocks such as limestone and marble that contain large amounts of calcium carbonate. Acid rain has the following reaction with the marble calcium carbonate. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. Marble like all calcareous rocks is particularly sensitive to degradation by acid chemicals and to weathering.

It is well established that either wet or dry deposition of sulfur dioxide significantly increases the rate of corrosion on limestone sandstone and marble. Acids in the rain react with the calcium compounds in the stones to create gypsum which then flakes off. How does this happen. 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 details. Students know how to calculate ph from hydrogen ion concentration. Students know buffers stabilize ph in acid base reactions. A chemical reaction equation 9 between calcium carbonate and sulfuric acid the primary acid component of acid rain results in the dissolution of caco.

Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. Caco 3 h 2 so 4 caso 4 h 2 o co 2 the formation of calcium sulphate results in the corrosion of this beautiful monument. Acid base reactions can have a strong environmental impact. The reaction of a strong acid with a salt of a weak acid goes to completion.