Explain How Does Acid Rain Affect Marble And Limestone Buildings
How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings?
Acid rain is a type of precipitation that is characterised by containing contaminating substances such as sulphuric and nitric acid, both of which have harmful effects on the environment. Both marble and limestone are extremely vulnerable to the damages done by acid rain due to their components. These materials contain calcite, a substance that easily reacts and dissolves with acid. Acid rain is the cause of the destruction of many statues, buildings, and monuments (Howard Perlman).
Acid rain is one of the consequences of pollution. When any type of fuel is burned, various chemicals are released into the air. The emissions from factories, fires, and cars have harmful grey …show more content…
Acid rain has the ability to destroy statues and buildings by tearing away the stones that had been used to make the structures. Marble and limestone used to be very common materials for art that was meant to be exposed outdoors. To a surprise, the acid rain could turn the calcium carbonate molecules that were found on these stone materials into calcium sulphate molecules. This is the result of calcium sulphate being dissolved by water; acid rain would eventually wash away the outside layer of buildings and statues. There are many examples all across the world of the corrosive effects acid rain has on sculptures. Many sculptures have been ruined while some have been preserved as they were shielded from the outdoors. This reaction can be simulated by putting an egg in vinegar. Within an hour, the egg shell will have dissolved, and this is because the shell is made form the same material as limestone, calcium carbonate. The acid, or vinegar, produces an immediate reaction as bubbling will occur, first converting the carbonate into carbonic acid and then carbon dioxide.
(Article, Acid Rain Effects on Buildings). However some use this chemical reaction to their advantage. Architect James Galbon Rogers, faux-aged Yale University's buildings by pouring acid over the walls (Yale university,
Acid rain is a type of precipitation that is characterised by containing contaminating substances such as sulphuric and nitric acid, both of which have harmful effects on the environment. Both marble and limestone are extremely vulnerable to the damages done by acid rain due to their components. These materials contain calcite, a substance that easily reacts and dissolves with acid. Acid rain is the cause of the destruction of many statues, buildings, and monuments (Howard Perlman).
Acid rain is one of the consequences of pollution. When any type of fuel is burned, various chemicals are released into the air. The emissions from factories, fires, and cars have harmful grey …show more content…
Acid rain has the ability to destroy statues and buildings by tearing away the stones that had been used to make the structures. Marble and limestone used to be very common materials for art that was meant to be exposed outdoors. To a surprise, the acid rain could turn the calcium carbonate molecules that were found on these stone materials into calcium sulphate molecules. This is the result of calcium sulphate being dissolved by water; acid rain would eventually wash away the outside layer of buildings and statues. There are many examples all across the world of the corrosive effects acid rain has on sculptures. Many sculptures have been ruined while some have been preserved as they were shielded from the outdoors. This reaction can be simulated by putting an egg in vinegar. Within an hour, the egg shell will have dissolved, and this is because the shell is made form the same material as limestone, calcium carbonate. The acid, or vinegar, produces an immediate reaction as bubbling will occur, first converting the carbonate into carbonic acid and then carbon dioxide.
(Article, Acid Rain Effects on Buildings). However some use this chemical reaction to their advantage. Architect James Galbon Rogers, faux-aged Yale University's buildings by pouring acid over the walls (Yale university,