Question

What happens when carbonate minerals come into contact with hydrochloric acid?

Answer 1

Have you not tried this?

Explanation:

I suppose these days, we have whiteboards rather than blackboards with chalk, but where I work there are classrooms with a blackboard and a few sticks of chalk.

`CaCO_3(s) + 2HCl(aq) rarr CaCl_2(aq) + H_2O(l) + CO_2(g)uarr`

Add bits of chalk to the dilute acid, you would immediately notice effervesence round the surface of the solid. The chalk will eventually dissolve in the presence of excess acid. Remember if you do these experiments you must wear safety spectacles, and a laboratory coat to protect your clothing.

What would be the equivalent reaction with `Na_2CO_3`?