Question

Copper carbonate (CuCO3) reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) according to this equation:

CuCO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CuCl2(aq) + H2O(l) + CO2(g).

Which statement correctly describes the substances in this reaction?

A. Exactly one product and two reactants are either liquid or dissolved in water.
B. Exactly one of the reactants is in a water-based solution, but none of the products are.
C. The reactants include both a liquid and a gas.
D. Exactly one reactant is a solid, and exactly one product is a gas.
E. The products include a solid, a liquid, and a gas.

Answer 1

The correct description for the reaction between copper carbonate and hydrochloric acid is that exactly one reactant is a solid (CuCO3) and exactly one product is a gas (CO2), corresponding to statement D.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction in question involves the reaction of copper carbonate (CuCO3) with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form copper chloride (CuCl2), water (H2O), and carbon dioxide (CO2). When assessing the physical state of each substance, we find that CuCO3 is a solid, HCl is aqueous (dissolved in water), CuCl2 remains in aqueous solution, water is a liquid, and CO2 is a gas that is produced as a product.

Referring to the given statements, the correct one that describes the substances in this reaction is: Exactly one reactant is a solid, and exactly one product is a gas. This corresponds to statement D. CuCO3 is the solid reactant, and CO2 is the gaseous product.

The confusion about substances being in a water-based solution (aqueous) or solid lies in their solubility. Copper carbonate is generally insoluble in water and forms a precipitate, whereas sodium chloride (NaCl), for instance, remains in solution because it is soluble. For the reaction between copper hydroxide and HCl, the formula would be Cu(OH)2 + 2HCl → CuCl2 + 2H2O.