What Does Acid Rain Do To Marble

What effect does acid rain have on marble.

What does acid rain do to marble.

Acid rain is a byproduct of both natural and man made conditions. Students know how to use the ph scale to characterize acid and base solutions. Sulfur dioxide plus water makes sulfurous acid. In the atmosphere rain mixes with carbon dioxide nitrous oxide and sulfuric dioxide to form acid rain.

Students know how to calculate ph from hydrogen ion concentration. Not all acidic deposition is wet sometimes dust particles can become acidic as well and this is called dry deposition when acid rain and dry acidic particles fall to earth the nitric and sulfuric acid that make the particles acidic can land on statues buildings and other manmade structures and damage their surfaces. Students know buffers stabilize ph in acid base reactions. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves.

It is well established that either wet or dry deposition of sulfur dioxide significantly increases the rate of corrosion on limestone sandstone and marble. Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

Acids have a corrosive effect on limestone or marble buildings or sculptures. How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. Effects of acid rain on materials.