How would you balance the following equation: CaO3 --> CaO+CO2?

1 Answer
Jan 9, 2016

You have a typo in your question:

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

Explanation:

If you HEAT a carbonate sufficiently, the reaction above occurs.

We could reverse this reaction by bubbling carbon dioxide thru calcium hydroxide:

#Ca(OH)_2(aq) + CO_2(g) rarr CaCO_3(s)darr + H_2O(l)#.

In fact, this second reaction is a test for carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide gas should turn limewater (#Ca(OH)_2(aq)# milky (i.e. a precipitate of white #CaCO_3# occurs). When you do this reaction yourself in the lab, you should always do a test first: i.e. treat saturated calcium hydroxide with carbonated water (i.e. water with saturated with #CO_2#). What do you see?

Are these reactions balanced? How do you know?