Effects on materials - air pollutants, Biology

Assignment Help:

Effects on Materials - Air pollutants

Most air pollutants are reactive chemicals, so they react with most of the substances around. You may recall from your chemistry lessons in school that SO2 oxidises to form SO3 and when dissolved in water it forms sulphuric acid which is highly caustic. Sulphuric acid reacts with metals and their weak salts and forms corresponding sulphate. In this way, in air polluted with SO2, aluminium metal can form aluminium sulphate and lime stone and marble can form calcium sulphate called gypsum. Such reactions have caused damage to buildings, sculptures and other historical monuments made up of stone, plaster, marble or metal painted glass works. Some of them are from middle ages or even older. The stone in the Parthenon in Athens, has deteriorated more in the past 50 years from air pollution than it had in the previous 2000 years. Similarly, the statue of liberty is corroded from SO2 and NO2 and TajMahal from SO2 emitted by Mathura refineries. The sand stone statues get covered with black coating that contains large amounts of gypsum. When gypsum is formed in cracks, the expansion of its crystals causes the limestone to crumble away. Such damages are indeed costly as well as a great loss to society because many of them are irreplaceable works of art.

Since SO2, NO2 and O3 are strong oxidants; they soil, fade and deteriorate fabrics. Sulphur dioxide affects leather and plastic also. Ozone cracks wind shield wipers, tyres and other rubber products. Hydrogen sulphide reacts with metallic paints and tarnishes them by forming metallic sulphides. It tarnishes silverware and jewellery also. Particulate matter sullies and erodes the buildings. Soot and tar sticks to the building stones, painted surface and is difficult to remove. Such damages require a large sum of money for repair and maintenance.


Related Discussions:- Effects on materials - air pollutants

Define the meaning of goitrogens, Define the Meaning of Goitrogens? Goi...

Define the Meaning of Goitrogens? Goitrogens are substances that interfere with iodide metabolism in any way that inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis. As a result, there is augm

Define diagnostic criteria for bulimia nervosa, Define Diagnostic Criteria ...

Define Diagnostic Criteria for Bulimia Nervosa? 1. Recurrent episodes of binge eating. An episode of binge eating is characterized by both of the following a) Eating, in a d

Classification of animal world, plz give the classificational chart of anim...

plz give the classificational chart of animals upto speceis level

Describe class ophiuroidea in general way, Describe Class Ophiuroidea in ge...

Describe Class Ophiuroidea in general way? Brittle stars have a central disc with five long, thin, flexible arms that can be detached from the body at will in times of danger.

Define the gel electrophoresis, Define the Gel Electrophoresis? Gel ele...

Define the Gel Electrophoresis? Gel electrophoresis is among the most powerful and yet conveniently used methods of macromolecular separation. The gels in common use, polyacryl

Can you explain non-restrictive ventricular septal defect, Q. Can you expla...

Q. Can you explain Non-restrictive ventricular septal defect? In non-restrictive VSD PA pressures are elevated hence VSD gradient is low. Non-restrictive VSD is larger in s

Exchange of cells between the mother and the fetus, Q. Is there an exchange...

Q. Is there an exchange of cells between the mother and the fetus through the placenta? Under usual conditions there is no passage of cells across the placenta during gestation

Rh-factor, Rh-factor It is one of the factor associated with blood. ...

Rh-factor It is one of the factor associated with blood. In addition to ‘A', ‘B', ‘AB' and ‘O' groups, Rh factor test is also done in the blood. People having Rh factor a

Explain procedure for checking the presence of rhodamine b, Explain Procedu...

Explain Procedure for Checking the Presence of Rhodamine B? Conduct the experiment following the procedure given herewith: 1. Pour liquid paraffin or mineral oil in a Petri

Write Your Message!

Captcha
Free Assignment Quote

Assured A++ Grade

Get guaranteed satisfaction & time on delivery in every assignment order you paid with us! We ensure premium quality solution document along with free turntin report!

All rights reserved! Copyrights ©2019-2020 ExpertsMind IT Educational Pvt Ltd