Final answer:
Acid rain, with a pH less than 5.6, is formed by pollutants reacting with water in the atmosphere, creating acids that can corrode metals and erode marble or limestone structures and statues, with serious consequences for both human-made structures and the natural environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The type of precipitation being described, which has a pH less than 5.6 and results in various environmental and structural damages, is known as acid rain. Acid rain is formed when pollutants, such as nitrogen and sulfur oxides from sources like motor vehicle exhaust and coal burning, react with water in the atmosphere. This reaction creates acids that lower the pH of rainfall. Acid rain can corrode metals, such as bronze, and damage the paint and stone of structures, which includes marble and limestone buildings and statues. On exposure to acid rain, marble and limestone undergo a chemical reaction with dilute sulfuric acid which can be represented as: CaCO3(s) + H2SO4(aq) → CaSO4(s) + H2O(l) + CO2(g). This reaction leads to the dissolution of marble or limestone, causing significant harm to the societal value of our buildings and monuments as well as to natural environments such as forests and lakes.