Marble Statues Affected By Acid Rain

In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened.

Marble statues affected by acid rain.

Architects chose limestone marble steel and brass as durable materials intended to resist the elements. The marble balustrade on the west side of the capitol building shows damage from acid rain dissolving the mineral calcite. 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.

When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air and rain react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves. The compound polluts the sea and rivers. Questions still remain about acid rain and building stone in the washington area. In exposed areas of buildings and statues we see roughened surfaces removal of material and loss of carved details.

Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways. How does acid precipitation affect marble and limestone buildings. This causes acid rain which corrodes marble statues and monuments. Limestone statues and buildings made from calcium carbonate are highly affected by acid rain.

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. Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. The reaction between the calcium carbonate present in the monoumnets and the acid of acid rain is given below. When sulfurous sulfuric and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone the calcite dissolves.