Question

You are required to go to the lab and test the combustion of calcium carbonate. Calcium carbonate is a white mineral. You burned calcium carbonate, CaCO3, to produce carbon dioxide, CO2, and a white powder, CaO.

a. By referring to the given, write down the chemical equation.
b. Compare the properties of the products and reactants in this reaction.
c. Use numbers of atoms to describe the amounts of calcium, carbon, and oxygen before and after the reaction.
d. Explain where the equation shows the conservation of matter.
e. Research another specific chemical reaction and create a poster to explain what happens during the reaction.
f. Design an experiment to test the reaction of two substances and record observations. Be specific about the substances and the observations.

Answer 1

Explanation:

a.
`CaCO_(3)` →
`CaO` +
`CO_(2)`

This is the balanced chemical equation for the combustion of Calcium carbonate.

b. Properties of
`CaCO_(3)` :

• Odorless, white powder
• Water-insoluble
• Common name - limestone

Properties of
`CaO` :

• Amorphous white solid
• Soluble in water and glycerol
• Common name - quicklime
• Ionic bond between Calcium and Oxygen

Properties of
`CO_(2)` :

• One of the most popular greenhouse gas
• Colorless, odorless, non-flammable gas
• Water-soluble - dissolves in water to form carbonic acid
• It is 1.5 times heavier than air
• Cooling of carbon dioxide liquid forms dry ice
• It reacts with alkalis like NaOH to form carbonates which on further hydration gives bicarbonates.
• When passed through lime water, carbon dioxide turns limewater milky.

c. According the above equation, number of atoms on both sides are equal.

Before reaction: Ca = 1, C = 1, O = 3

After reaction: Ca = 1, C = 1, O = 1 + 2 = 3

d. The law of conservation of matter states that the total mass and kind of elements in the reactants is equal to the total mass and kind of elements in the products. Thus matter cannot be created not destroyed, it can only be conserved. From the chemical equation, we get to know that the mass and number of atoms of all the elements is equal in the reactants and products. Thus we can prove the conservation of matter.

e. Combustion of Sodium Carbonate:

`Na_(2) CO_(3)` →
`Na_(2)O + CO_(2)`

In this reaction, sodium carbonate undergoes combustion at temperature > 500°C and forms sodium oxide and carbon dioxide.

f. The following results are achieved when a chemical reaction occurs:

• Change in state
• Change in color
• Evolution of a gas
• Change in temperature

Water and calcium oxide react quickly to form calcium hydroxide. A significant amount of heat is also released during this process, raising the system's temperature. This demonstrates that there was a chemical reaction.

Calcium carbonate breaks down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide when heated. Here, the evolution of gas (carbon dioxide) proves that a chemical reaction has occurred.