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

Future challenges for scaling from individual to ecosystems, Define Future ...

Define Future challenges for scaling from individual to ecosystems? Scaling of biogeochemical fluxes in terrestrial systems has confirmed much harder. While ecosystem ecologist

Define osseointegration and its theories, Define osseointegration and its t...

Define osseointegration and its theories. Osseointegration implies that "it is a contact established without interposition of non bony tissue between normal remodeled bone and

Reproduction, what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

what is the difference between anisogamy and oogamy?

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

Define Diagnostic Criteria for Anorexia Nervosa? Table gives the American Psychiatric Association diagnostic criteria for anorexia nervosa. Although the manual does not use bod

How does vitamin c act in the body, Q. How does vitamin C act in the body? ...

Q. How does vitamin C act in the body? What is the harm caused by insufficiency of vitamin C? Why was this deficiency also known as "sailors' disease"? Vitamin C, or ascorbic a

Explain about bt reassessment, Will the plant-incorporated protectants rule...

Will the plant-incorporated protectants rules affect the Bt reassessment? No. To make sure that our biotechnology assessments reflect the latest data on health and ecological e

Define some adverse effects of saponins, Define some adverse effects of sap...

Define some adverse effects of saponins? The adverse effects of saponins may be described as under: - A well-known toxic effect is 'erythrocyte lysis' since they interact wi

What are the illustrations of the civil law, What are the illustrations of ...

What are the illustrations of the civil law? Illustrations of the civil law: Illustrations of civil actions are defamation of breach, character of contract, trespassing or

Genitals examination of new born, Genitals check (in female), if ...

Genitals check (in female), if labia majora covers labia minora. In premature infant labia minora is not covered fully by labia majora.  check for discharge from vagin

Define terms umbra and penumbra, Define the terms umbra and penumbra, and d...

Define the terms umbra and penumbra, and describe how they relate to solar eclipses.

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