Calcium carbonate decomposes to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide gas. If 44.5 grams of calcium oxide is produced, how many grams of calcium carbonate had to decomposez?

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Answer 1 · 2017-03-01T08:37:47

#"Approx."# #80*g#

We need a stoichiometric reaction that represents the decomposition of calcium carbonate:

#CaCO_3(s) + Delta rarr CaO(s) + CO_2(g)uarr#

And thus calcium oxide and calcium carbonate are present in equimolar amounts:

#"Moles of calcium oxide"# #=# #(44.5*g)/(56.08*g*mol^-1)=0.794*mol#.

Given the stoichiometry of the reaction, an equimolar quantity of calcium carbonate MUST have been present.

This represents a mass of #0.794*molxx100.09*g*mol^-1#

#~=80*g#

In the decomposition reaction, what does the #Delta# symbol represent?