Of all the building stones granite is the least susceptible to acid rain because its composition is of feldspar and quartz both of which resist attacks of acid.
What happens to granite due to acid rain.
The term acid rain is a popular expression for the more formal and scientific term acid deposition.
Prevailing winds transport the acidic compounds hundreds of miles often across state and national borders.
Acid deposition can be caused by natural sources such as volcanoes but it is mainly caused by the release of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide during fossil fuel combustion when these gases are discharged into the atmosphere they react with the water oxygen and other gases already present there to form sulfuric acid ammonium nitrate and nitric acid.
These acidic compounds.
Acid precipitation affects stone primarily in two ways.
What causes acid rain.
Acid deposition more commonly known as acid rain occurs when emissions of sulfur dioxide so2 and nitrogen oxides nox react in the atmosphere with water oxygen and oxidants to form various acidic compounds.
However the acid found in rain snow fog and dust is beginning to affect some granite buildings and statues granite lake beds and the wildlife they contain.
Acid rain still occurs but its impact on europe and north america is far less than it was in the 1970s and 80s because of strong air pollution regulations in those regions.
When the sulfur dioxide dissolves in the water in the clouds it makes acid rain rainwater that is more acidic than normal.