acid rain is a dilute solution of acids that dissolve the calcium carbonate in limestone statues…

acid rain is a dilute solution of acids that dissolve the calcium carbonate in limestone statues. concentrated acids can dissolve a large piece of limestone in a few days. statue breakdown due to acid rain can take decades, but statues with intricate carvings break down more quickly. explain these observations in terms of reaction rates.

acid rain is a dilute solution of acids that dissolve the calcium carbonate in limestone statues. concentrated acids can dissolve a large piece of limestone in a few days. statue breakdown due to acid rain can take decades, but statues with intricate carvings break down more quickly. explain these observations in terms of reaction rates.

Answer

Answer:

Acid - rain is a dilute acid solution, so the concentration of acid is low. According to the rate - law, the reaction rate is proportional to the concentration of reactants. With low acid concentration, the reaction rate between acid and calcium carbonate in limestone is slow, taking decades for significant statue breakdown. Concentrated acids have a high acid concentration, resulting in a much faster reaction rate and can dissolve a large piece of limestone in a few days. Statues with intricate carvings have a larger surface area exposed to the acid. An increase in surface area increases the number of reactive sites, thus increasing the reaction rate and causing these statues to break down more quickly.

Brief Explanations:

Reaction rate depends on acid concentration and surface area. Dilute acids are slow, concentrated ones are fast, and more surface area speeds up reactions.