Question

Question #54277

Answer 1

Acid rain will eventually dissolve a marble statue.

Acid rain often contains sulfuric acid, `H_2SO_4`, which will react with the calcium carbonate, `CaCO_3`, to produce relatively insoluble calcium sulfate, `CaSO_4`, carbon dioxide, `CO_2`, and water, `H_2O`.

`CaCO_(3(s)) + H_2SO_(4(aq)) -> CaSO_(4(s)) + CO_(2(g)) + H_2O_((l))`

If large quantities of water are present, the calcium sulfate will be removed from the surface of the statue. In time, the quantities of calcium carbonate converted by acid rains into calcium sulfate, water, and carbon dioxide will become quite visible.