Acids & Carbonates (Oxford AQA IGCSE Chemistry)

Revision Note

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Chemistry

Acids will react with metal carbonates to form the corresponding metal salt, carbon dioxide and water

acid + metal carbonate → salt + water + carbon dioxide

These reactions are easily distinguishable from acid – metal oxide/hydroxide reactions due to the presence of effervescence caused by the carbon dioxide gas
- We can test for the presence of carbon dioxide gas by bubbling it through limewater
- If the limewater turns milky or cloudy carbon dioxide is present

The following are some specific examples of reactions between acids and metal carbonates:

hydrochloric acid + sodium carbonate ⟶ sodium chloride + water + carbon dioxide

2HCl + Na₂CO₃ ⟶ 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂

sulfuric acid + calcium carbonate ⟶ calcium sulfate + water + carbon dioxide

H₂SO₄ + CaCO₃⟶ CaSO₄ + H₂O + CO₂

If in an acid-base reaction there is effervescence produced then the base must be a metal carbonate which produces carbon dioxide gas.

to absolutely everything:

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

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