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Topic: Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid reaction  (Read 55120 times)

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Offline kevinkevin

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Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid reaction
« on: August 01, 2012, 05:00:30 PM »
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.     
 

   

Offline Hunter2

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Re: Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid reaction
« Reply #1 on: August 02, 2012, 12:43:02 AM »
No: What happens in in flowstone caves in the mountains. Think also about acidic salts.

Offline Sophia7X

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Re: Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid reaction
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2012, 08:29:00 PM »
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.
Entropy happens.

Offline kevinkevin

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Re: Calcium carbonate and carbonic acid reaction
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2012, 01:52:16 PM »
  Thank-you. That is exactly what I was looking for.

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