Chemical Forums
Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: kevinkevin on August 01, 2012, 05:00:30 PM
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I am a bit confused about the reaction that will occur between carbonic acid and calcium carbonate. When I try to relate the reaction to an apparently similar acid base reaction I get a result that makes it appear as if no reaction would occur.
CaCO3 + H2SO4--> CaSO4 + CO2 + H2O
Now for the reaction I am interested in,
CaCO3 + H2CO3 ---> CaCO3 + H2O + CO2
The problem I am having is that it appears as though calcium carbonate would just appear again on the product side. The reason I thought of this equation in the first place is because I was thinking about ocean acidifiction and the tole it is taking on corals ( primarily sps corals) which are made up primarily of calcium carbonate. I assume that carbon dioxide is the main cause of ocean acidification and that a reaction involving carbonic acid is responsible for damaging the calcium carbonate skeletons of corals. Any quick insight on this reaction would be great. Thanks.
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No: What happens in in flowstone caves in the mountains. Think also about acidic salts.
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CaCO3 + H2O + CO2 ::equil:: Ca(HCO3)2
Since H2O + CO2 ::equil:: H2CO3, that means CaCO3 + H2CO3 ::equil:: Ca(HCO3)2
Ca(HCO3)2 is soluble so basically carbonic acid would be eating away the calcium carbonate skeletons.
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Thank-you. That is exactly what I was looking for.