Question

One harmful effect of acid rain is the deterioration of structures and statues made of marble or limestone, both of which are essentially calcium carbonate. The reaction of calcium carbonate with sulfuric acid yields carbon dioxide, water, and calcium sulfate. Because calcium sulfate is marginally soluble in water, part of the object is washed away by the rain. Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction of sulfuric acid with calcium carbonate.

Short answer

A balanced chemical equation for the reaction of sulfuric acid with calcium carbonate is,

${\text{CaCO}}_3\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\left(aq\right)\to {\text{CaSO}}_4\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{CO}}_2\left(g\right)$

Step-by-step solution

Definition of Acid rain

Any type of precipitation that contains acidic elements, such as sulfuric or nitric acid, and falls to the earth from the atmosphere in wet or dry forms is referred to as acid rain.

Identification of balanced chemical equation

In the troposphere, ${\text{SO}}_2$is almost all oxidized to ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$in the form of an aerosol, which ends up in wet precipitation or acid rain.The mechanism for the conversion of ${\text{SO}}_2$to ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$is quite complex and not fully understood ${\text{SO}}_2$. can also be oxidized to role="math" localid="1663824190588" ${\text{SO}}_3$ and then converted to ${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$on particles by heterogeneous catalysis.Eventually, acid rain can corrode limestone and marble $\left({\text{CaCO}}_3\right)$.

A typical reaction is shown below.

${\text{CaCO}}_3\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\left(aq\right)\to {\text{CaSO}}_4\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{CO}}_2\left(g\right)$

Hence, the chemical equation for the reaction of sulfuric acid with calcium carbonate is,

${\text{CaCO}}_3\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\left(aq\right)\to {\text{CaSO}}_4\left(s\right)+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}\left(l\right)+{\text{CO}}_2\left(g\right)$