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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

Expert verified
The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) is given by: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄.

Step by step solution

01

Write the unbalanced equation

Write the unbalanced equation with the reactants and products: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄
02

Balance the atoms(carbon)

There is one carbon atom in both the reactant and product sides, so the carbon atoms are already balanced. The equation remains: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄
03

Balance the atoms(oxygen)

On the reactant side, there are three oxygen atoms in CaCO₃ and four oxygen atoms in H₂SO₄, making a total of seven oxygen atoms. On the product side, there are two oxygen atoms in CO₂, one oxygen atom in H₂O, and four oxygen atoms in CaSO₄, making a total of seven oxygen atoms. The oxygen atoms are already balanced, and the equation remains the same: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄
04

Balance the atoms(hydrogen)

On the reactant side, there are two hydrogen atoms in H₂SO₄. On the product side, there are two hydrogen atoms in H₂O. Therefore, the hydrogen atoms are balanced, and the equation remains the same: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄
05

Balance the atoms(calcium and sulfur)

There is one calcium atom in CaCO₃ and one calcium atom in CaSO₄, so the calcium atoms are balanced. There is one sulfur atom in H₂SO₄ and one sulfur atom in CaSO₄, so the sulfur atoms are also balanced. The equation remains: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄ Since all of the atoms are balanced, the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and sulfuric acid is: CaCO₃ + H₂SO₄ → CO₂ + H₂O + CaSO₄

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Chemical Equation Balancing
Balancing chemical equations is like playing a game of logic where the main rule is the Law of Conservation of Mass; it states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the number of atoms for each element must be the same on both sides of the equation.

In the case of the reaction between calcium carbonate and sulfuric acid, we can see that this balancing act is simple because each atom that appears in the reactants also appears in the products in the same quantity. Remember, the coefficients of the balanced chemical equation represent the ratio of moles of the reactants that react to form the products. For students struggling with equation balancing, visual aids such as a table tracking each element's atoms can be incredibly helpful.
Calcium Carbonate Reaction
Calcium carbonate is a common compound found in rocks like limestone and marble. It's also the main component of eggshells and seashells. When this compound reacts with an acid, such as sulfuric acid, it undergoes a chemical reaction known as acid-carbonate reaction.

This reaction releases carbon dioxide gas, water, and a salt—in this case, calcium sulfate. The chemical transformation can be written as: \(\text{CaCO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CaSO}_4\). Understanding this reaction helps to grasp essential chemical principles such as acid-base reactions, gas production, and the formation of salts. This knowledge then can be applied to a variety of real-world contexts, from geology to materials science.
Sulfuric Acid and Marble Deterioration
Marble, primarily composed of calcium carbonate, is vulnerable to attack by sulfuric acid, a phenomena commonly observed as a consequence of acid rain. The acidity erodes the marble through the reaction \(\text{CaCO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CaSO}_4\) which leads to the deterioration and loss of detail of statues and buildings.

Because calcium sulfate is slightly soluble in water, it gets washed away by rain, causing the object to slowly diminish over time. Protecting these cultural and architectural pieces from acid rain becomes a significant concern, with solutions such as applying water repellents or protective barriers often considered by conservators.
Environmental Effects of Acid Rain
Acid rain occurs when sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are released into the atmosphere, often through human activities like burning fossil fuels, and then react with water and other chemicals to form sulfuric and nitric acid. These acids can precipitate and fall as rain, causing a myriad of environmental issues.

It can lead to the acidification of lakes and streams, harming aquatic life. Forests can be damaged as acid rain strips soil of essential nutrients. It accelerates the decay of building materials and paints, including irreplaceable historical monuments. Understanding the chemistry behind acid rain and its impact encourages the pursuit of cleaner energy sources and stricter environmental regulations to safeguard our natural and cultural heritage.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

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