Stone-cancer (as stone-leprosy) of Taj Mahal effect is due to formation of

Options

A. `CaCO_(3)`
B. `CaSO_(4)`
C. `Ca(OH)_(2)`
D. `Ca(HCO_3)_(2)`

Answer

B

Explanation

Taj Mahal is made of marble (white stone), chemically it is `CaCO_(3)`. Acid rain corrods marble. In presence of `H_(2)SO_(4)`, marble from the surfaces gets converted into `CaSO_(4)` (gypsum) which has 2.1 times greater volume than marble, which causes increase in pressure on the surface of marble which leads to peeling, pitting and corrosion. This is called 'stone-leprosy' or stone - cancer.
`SO_(2)+O_(2) rarr SO_(3)`
`SO_(3)+H_(2)O rarr underset("Acid rain")(H_(2)SO_(4))`
`underset("Marble of Taj Mahal")(CaCO_(3))+H_(2)SO_(4) rarr underset("Stone-cancer")(CaSO_(4))+H_(2)O+CO_(2)`.