Why Does Acid Rain Cause Damage To Marble Statues

The marble has caco as the major component.

Why does acid rain cause damage to marble statues.

Many sculptures throughout the united states and europe are carved from marble or limestone. The acids in acid rains can react with caco by producing soluble salts. What causes acid rain. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

Acid rain can ruin buildings and statues by stripping away the material and corroding metal that makes up these structures. And nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. That s why acid rain dissolves statues made of marble. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves.

Those acids are made by dissolving the components in water which are from oxidation of the gases such as so no and co. A lot of buildings and statues are made of basic alkaline materials such as limestone. When an acid comes into contact with these materials it causes an exothermic reaction the dissolves the. 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. Architects chose limestone marble steel and brass as durable materials intended to resist the elements.