GEO-CHEMICAL STRUCTURE
Type
Year
Year
Installation
2016
2016
CaCO3(s) + 2H+(aq) → Ca2+(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
Calcium(Ca) is common element found in natural structure: bone, seashell, eggshell, and skeleton of insects. The basic compound in the natural state is calcium carbonate(CaCO3): Oxygen(O) and Carbon(C) are added to Calcium. When calcium carbonate deposited, the limestone, a sedimentary rock, is made. And the marble is a metamorphic rock made of limestone with high temperature and high pressure. I wanted to explore the characteristics of calcium carbonate, which is the basic compound of generally used architectural materials: marble and limestone.
Calcium carbonate layers were used as floors with aluminum wires and frames. Hydrochloric acid(HCl) played a role of accelerated precipitation. The gravitational force applied to the water on the top layer, and then it left traces of holes upon the layers. After the erosion process, additional calcium carbonate solution poured on the layers made structures as stalagmites, stalactites, and stone pillars. Even though the consecutive structures through layers are the result of an experimentally controlled situation, it plainly shows the characteristics of natural elements and rules.
Raindrops fall randomly in nature. In this experiment, acid drop equipment with several stopcocks and tubings makes a number of drops sporadically. A potter’s wheel is placed beneath layers and makes different drop points. Each layer is composed of Aluminum layer and wires. Calcium carbonate paste is poured into the frame and dry at room temperature. Wires support the weight of calcium carbonate layer and let melted layer pass downward.
As acid drops penetrate downward, straight holes are made. Randomly distributed holes make each layer as two-dimensional painting. Calcium carbonate geography connected through layers has not only structural arrangement but also sculptural features.
© 2020 BaekGi Min