preview

The Corrosion of Limestone Objects Due to Sulphuric Acid in Polluted Air: A Laboratory Research

Decent Essays

Given that the most common mineral in limestone is calcium carbonate, describe how limestone objects are corroded by the sulfuric acid in polluted air. What chemical reaction is involved here? Sulfuric acid formation in the air emanates from pollutants released in the atmosphere especially, from manufacturing industries (Hewayde, Nehdi, Allouche & Nakhla, 2007). When the gas, (sulfur dioxide) is released into the air, it combines with oxygen to form another gas (sulfur trioxide, SO3), which reacts with water to form sulfuric acid (Revie, Uhlig & Wiley, 2011). The reaction is indicated below;
S (s) +O2 (g) SO2 (g)
SO2 (g) + O2 (g) SO3 (g)
SO3 (g) + H2O (l) H2SO4 (aq) (Hewayde et al., 2007) Sulfur dioxide results when a reaction occurs between the sulfur element and oxygen in the air. The acid occurs in the air in the form of Sulfuric acid mists responsible for the corrosion of various metallic and limestone-rich objects. Usually, acid rain results when air containing traces of sulfur dioxide mixes with water (Revie et al., 2011). The acid rain, owing to its PH leads to the corrosion of monuments statues plus memorial, whose main component is calcium carbonate CaCO3. The chief source of sulfur dioxide, in United States, is from electric power plants (Hewayde et al., 2007). The rest comes from industrial sources, combustion of fuels, automobiles and other sources. Acid mists responsible for the corrosion of objects can occur in the air when the humidity of the air is

Get Access