Question

Siderite is a mineral consisting largely of iron(II) carbonate. Write an overall, balanced equation for its reaction with nitric acid, and name the products.

Short answer

The balanced equation is \( \text{FeCO}_3 + 2 \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \); products are iron(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Step-by-step solution

Write the chemical formula for siderite

Siderite is primarily composed of iron(II) carbonate. The chemical formula for iron(II) carbonate is \( \text{FeCO}_3 \).

Write the formula for nitric acid

Nitric acid is a commonly used acid in chemical reactions and has the chemical formula \( \text{HNO}_3 \).

Predict the reaction products

The reaction between iron(II) carbonate and nitric acid will produce iron(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water. The chemical forms of these products are \( \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 \), \( \text{CO}_2 \), and \( \text{H}_2\text{O} \).

Write the unbalanced chemical equation

The initial unbalanced chemical equation is \( \text{FeCO}_3 + \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \).

Balance the chemical equation

To balance the chemical equation, ensure the number of each type of atom on the reactant side matches the number on the product side:- Begin by balancing the iron atoms. There is 1 iron atom on each side, so iron is balanced.- Balance the carbonate (\(\text{CO}_3\)) with \(\text{CO}_2\) and \(\text{H}_2\text{O}\) to ensure carbon and oxygen atoms are balanced.- Balance nitrate groups (\(\text{NO}_3\)) and hydrogen atoms by adjusting coefficients:The balanced equation is:\[ \text{FeCO}_3 + 2 \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]

Name the products

The reaction products are iron(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Key concepts

Mineral Siderite

Siderite is an interesting mineral largely composed of iron(II) carbonate. It has the chemical formula \( \text{FeCO}_3 \).
Siderite is part of the carbonate family of minerals, which are an important group in geology.
These minerals play a crucial role in the Earth's carbon cycle, contributing to processes such as forming soil and influencing the pH of water bodies. In siderite, the iron component is in the +2 oxidation state, making it an important iron ore.
This characteristic is significant because iron is an essential metal used worldwide in various applications, from construction to manufacturing. Overall, siderite's composition makes it not just crucial from a chemical standpoint but also valuable economically and ecologically.

Balanced Chemical Equation

In chemical reactions, a balanced chemical equation indicates how reactants transform into products. They need to follow the law of conservation of mass, meaning that atoms can't be created or destroyed in the reaction.
To balance a chemical equation, one must ensure that the amount of each kind of atom is the same on both sides of the equation.
Here's how we approach it:

• Write down the unbalanced equation by identifying the formulas of reactants and products. For this exercise, the unbalanced equation is \( \text{FeCO}_3 + \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \).
• Begin by balancing the elements that appear in only one reactant and one product.
• Adjust coefficients to balance the remaining atoms.

The final balanced equation for our reaction is:\[ \text{FeCO}_3 + 2 \text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Fe(NO}_3)_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]
This represents a clear, balanced transformation of reactants into products.

Reaction with Nitric Acid

When siderite reacts with nitric acid, this reaction produces several important products. Nitric acid, having the chemical formula \( \text{HNO}_3 \), reacts vigorously with many substances.
In this reaction, iron(II) carbonate from siderite reacts with nitric acid to yield iron(II) nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water:

• Iron(II) Nitrate (\(\text{Fe(NO}_3)_2\)): This is a salt, formed when an acid neutralizes a base or another acid.
• Carbon Dioxide (\(\text{CO}_2\)): A gaseous byproduct that is colorless, odorless, and plays a large role in regulating Earth's temperature.
• Water (\(\text{H}_2\text{O}\)): A common product formed in many acid reactions, providing a form of liquid output.

The production of these substances demonstrates a typical acid-carbonate reaction pattern, illustrating proton transfer from acid to carbonate.
This reaction is also a good example of how chemical reactions can involve gas evolution, in this case, the \(\text{CO}_2\). Understanding these reactions helps us comprehend how substances change and interact across different chemical contexts.