Marble Statues Affected By Acid Rain

How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings.

Marble statues affected by acid rain.

Architects chose limestone marble steel and brass as durable materials intended to resist the elements. Chemical pollutants gaseous oxides such as c o 2 n o 2 a n d s o 2 present in the atmosphere react with water to form carbonic acid nitric acid and sulphuric acid. 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.

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. The marble balustrade on the west side of the capitol building shows damage from acid rain dissolving the mineral calcite. The compound polluts the sea and rivers.

In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details. Limestone statues and buildings made from calcium carbonate are highly affected by acid rain. Questions still remain about acid rain and building stone in the washington area. Our food chain is also affected by acid rain.

Acid rain can ruin buildings and statues by stripping away the material and corroding metal that makes up these structures. Weathering deterioration caused by exposure to the environment is a natural part of the normal geologic cycle. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. Statues and structures made up of marble and limestone are slowly corroded as the rain water containing the acids fall on them both sulphuric acid and nitric acid dissolve marble to form salts.