How do acids react with metal carbonates?

Acids react with metal carbonates to produce a salt, water and carbon dioxide.

When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate, a chemical reaction takes place, resulting in the formation of a salt, water, and carbon dioxide. This type of reaction is known as an acid-carbonate reaction. The general formula for this reaction is: Acid + Metal Carbonate → Salt + Water + Carbon Dioxide.

Let's take an example to understand this better. If we react hydrochloric acid (HCl) with calcium carbonate (CaCO3), the reaction would be: 2HCl + CaCO3 → CaCl2 + H2O + CO2. Here, calcium chloride (CaCl2) is the salt, water (H2O) is obviously water, and CO2 is carbon dioxide.

The carbon dioxide produced in this reaction can be tested using limewater. When carbon dioxide is passed through limewater, it turns milky. This is a classic test in the laboratory to confirm the presence of carbon dioxide.

The type of salt produced in the reaction depends on the specific acid and metal carbonate used. For instance, if sulphuric acid reacts with sodium carbonate, the resulting salt would be sodium sulphate.

It's important to note that not all metal carbonates react with acids. Some metal carbonates, like the carbonates of transition metals, don't react with acids because they are too stable.

In summary, the reaction between an acid and a metal carbonate is a common type of acid-base reaction in chemistry. It's a fundamental concept that helps us understand how different substances interact with each other.