Question

When $S{O}_2$ is dissolved in water, acid rain containing Sulphuric acid is formed. The acid rain attacks marble statues and damages them. Write the balanced chemical equation for these.

Answer 1

Step 1: Acid rain

When atmospheric pollutants like oxides of nitrogen and sulphur react with rainwater and come down with rain, this results in acid rain.

Step 2: Chemical equations:

The equation for acid rain:

When sulphur dioxide in the atmospheric air get reacts with water and Oxygen it forms sulphuric acid and causes acid rain.

Sulphur dioxide + Oxygen + Water = Sulphuric acid

${\mathrm{SO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{O}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)$

The equation for acid rain with marble:

The marble statues are made up of calcium carbonate (${\mathrm{CaCO}}_3$). When sulphuric acid from the acid rain reacts with calcium carbonate forms calcium sulfate $\left({\mathrm{CaSO}}_4\right)$.

${\mathrm{CaCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{l}\right)\to {\mathrm{CaSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{s}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)$