Danielle Lone Eichbauer 11/20/13

Testing Effects of Acid Rain on Statues

Background: Acid rain and the dry deposition of acidic particles contribute to the corrosion of metals (such as bronze) and the deterioration of paint and stone (such as marble and limestone). These effects significantly reduce the societal value of buildings, bridges, cultural objects (such as statues, monuments, and tombstones), and cars. Dry deposition of acidic compounds can also dirty buildings and other structures, leading to increased maintenance costs. There are many examples in both the U. S. and Europe of the corrosive effects of acid rain on sculptures. Many sculptures have been destroyed; a few have been preserved by bringing them inside. Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways: dissolution and alteration. When sulfurous, sulfuric, and nitric acids in polluted air react with the calcite in marble and limestone, the calcite dissolves. In exposed areas of buildings and statues, we see roughened surfaces, removal of material, and loss of carved details. Stone surface material may be lost all over or only in spots that are more reactive. You might expect that sheltered areas of stone buildings and monuments would not be affected by acid precipitation. However, sheltered areas on limestone and marble buildings and monuments show blackened crusts that have peeled off in some places, revealing crumbling stone beneath. This black crust is primarily composed of gypsum, a mineral that forms from the reaction between calcite, water, and sulfuric acid. Gypsum is soluble in water; although it can form anywhere on carbonate stone surfaces that are exposed to sulfur dioxide gas (SO2), it is usually washed away. It remains only on protected surfaces that are not directly washed by the rain. There are many different ways to test the effects of acid rain on monuments and statues, even on a much smaller scale that can easily be done in a lab environment. The most common way to look for effects of acid rain is to use a type of acidic solution, (i.e. kitchen vinegar based), on any type of granite stone or marble which can be found easily at any garden or home improvement store. To test for the effects pH levels can be tracked after the solution is applied to the stone.

Question: Does acid rain cause corrosion and destruction to stones such as marble?

Purpose: To see how pH levels of the stone change after acid rain is applied to them to test for corrosion.

Variables: Independent: Acid rain being applied to the marble in M Dependent: Changes in pH levels of the stone according to the pH paper Controls: Constant levels of acidic solution, same size stone, same type of marble stone, same amount of time elapsed, no disturbance once solution is applied, constant temperature and pressure on stone.

Materials:

Four 20 ml beakers 25 ml graduated cylinder Water Vinegar solution with pH of 4.3 .1 Marble chips (from a garden supply store) pH paper

Procedure: 1. With a marking pen, label the beakers 1, 2, 3, and 4 2. Measuring with a graduate cylinder, place 10 ml of water in beakers #1 and #2, and 10 ml of vinegar in beakers #3 and #4 3. Tear off two small pieces of pH paper (about 1 cm long) and using the tweezers to hold them dip one piece into beaker #1 and piece into beaker #3. Compare the color of the pH paper to the pH color chart and record the pH in the Table you created in your lab book. The pH of beaker #2 should be the same as #1 and the pH of beaker #4 should be the same as #3. 4. Record changes in pH in double bar graph as shown below for example

Data: Trial 1 Beaker 1 2 3 4 Trial 2 Beaker 1 2 3 4 Trial 3 Beaker 1 2 3 4 Liquid Water Water Acid Acid pH original liquid pH next day Liquid Water Water Acid Acid pH original liquid pH next day Liquid Water Water Acid Acid pH original liquid pH next day

8 7.9 7.8 7.7 7.6 7.5 7.4 7.3 7.2 7.1 7 6.9 6.8 6.7 6.6 6.5 6.4 6.3 6.2 6.1 6 5.9 5.8 5.7 5.6 5.5 5.4 5.3 5.2 5.1 5 4.9 4.8 4.7 4.6 4.5 4.4 4.3 4.2 4.1 4 3.9 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.5 3.4 3.3 3.2 3.1 3 2.9 2.8 2.7 2.6 2.5 2.4 2.3 2.2 2.1 2 1.9 1.8 1.7 1.6 1.5 1.4 1.3 1.2 1.1 1 0.9 0.8 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 Trial 1

Graph of pH Changes (Example data)

pH

Original pH Final pH

Trial 2 Trials (Example data)

Trial 3