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

Explain the endochondral ossification, Explain the endochondral ossificatio...

Explain the endochondral ossification The second type of osteogenesis is endochondral ossification. This process is different from intramembranous ossification in that it occur

Determine the types of plant sources - natural colourants, Determine the pa...

Determine the parts of plant source The natural food colourants from plant sources are classified into 5 types: a) Anthocyanins, b) Betalaines, c) Carotenoids, d) C

Illustrate omega taxonomy, Q. Illustrate Omega Taxonomy? After synthesi...

Q. Illustrate Omega Taxonomy? After synthesising a basic classification, the taxonomist can attempt to improve upon it. Therefore, the observed facts are interpreted in Omega t

Annelids - regeneration in invertebrates, Annelids - Regeneration in Invert...

Annelids - Regeneration in Invertebrates Between the segmented worms both the polychaetes and oligochaetes have remarkable powers of regeneration. Leeches totally lack this ca

Explain glycophorin, Since erythrocytes  red blood cells do not hold any su...

Since erythrocytes  red blood cells do not hold any sub cellular  organelles they are essentially  a membranous  sac for carrying  haemoglobin their plasma membrane  is a convenien

What is the action mechanism of the antibiotic penicillin, Penicillin, disc...

Penicillin, discovered by the Scottish doctor Alexander Fleming, in 1928, is a drug that inhibits enzymes essential for the synthesis of peptidoglycans, a constituent of the bacter

Goal of fostering the integration of biology, Evaluate how best to achieve ...

Evaluate how best to achieve the goal of fostering the integration of biology, statistics, and mathematics. What impediments stand in the way of progress? What is the best way to

What is peri-implantitis, Peri-Implantitis (Infective Process- Bacterial Or...

Peri-Implantitis (Infective Process- Bacterial Origin) Bacterial invasion of the peri-implant soft tissue results in its inflammation followed by rapid bone loss. Peri-Implanti

What is the vector of chagas disease, What is the vector of Chagas' disease...

What is the vector of Chagas' disease? How is the disease transmitted? The vector of Chagas' disease is its middle host, a triatomine bug. The major species is Triatoma infesta

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