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  • Acid Rain & Rock Weathering: Why Limestone is Most Vulnerable
    The sedimentary rock most susceptible to chemical weathering by acid rain is limestone.

    Here's why:

    * Composition: Limestone is primarily composed of calcium carbonate (CaCO3).

    * Acid Reaction: Acid rain, which contains sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and nitric acid (HNO3), reacts with calcium carbonate in a process called carbonation. This reaction produces calcium ions (Ca2+), bicarbonate ions (HCO3-), and water (H2O).

    * Dissolution: The reaction effectively dissolves the limestone, leading to its breakdown and weakening.

    While marble is a metamorphic rock, it is essentially a recrystallized form of limestone. Therefore, it shares the same vulnerability to acid rain as limestone.

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