Reactions of Acids with Carbonates and Hydrogen carbonates – Explained for Class 10 Science
When acids react with metal carbonates or metal hydrogencarbonates, they produce salt, carbon dioxide (CO₂), and water. This reaction is one of the most interesting and visually observable reactions in chemistry and forms the basis for several real-life applications.
What Happens in These Reactions?
When substances like sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) come in contact with acids such as hydrochloric acid (HCl), you can observe bubbling or fizzing, which is the carbon dioxide gas being released.
Key Reactions:
- Sodium carbonate + Hydrochloric acid → Sodium chloride + Water + Carbon dioxide
Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl → 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂ - Sodium hydrogencarbonate + Hydrochloric acid → Sodium chloride + Water + Carbon dioxide
NaHCO₃ + HCl → NaCl + H₂O + CO₂
To confirm the presence of CO₂, pass it through lime water (calcium hydroxide Ca(OH)₂):
- CO₂ + Ca(OH)₂ → CaCO₃ + H₂O
(This forms a milky white precipitate of calcium carbonate.)
If you continue to pass excess carbon dioxide, the milkiness disappears:
- CaCO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O → Ca(HCO₃)₂
(This is calcium hydrogencarbonate, which is soluble in water.)
Observations in the Lab
- Fizzing and effervescence when acids react with carbonates or bicarbonates.
- Lime water turns milky due to calcium carbonate formation.
- More CO₂ = More milkiness, but too much CO₂ clears it again.
- Passing gas slowly makes the milkiness last longer.
Real-Life Applications
- Fire extinguishers use sodium bicarbonate to release CO₂ and douse flames.
- Helps in detecting CO₂ gas in labs.
- Explains the natural formation of stalactites and stalagmites in caves.
- Demonstrates reversible chemical changes through precipitation and dissolution.
Perform These Experiments Safely with the Dencity App
The Dencity app is a powerful virtual science lab that allows students of class 10 science to simulate real-world experiments involving acids, bases, salts, and gas evolution reactions.
Using the Dencity virtual lab, students can:
- Simulate the reaction of acids with carbonates and observe fizzing.
- Bubble CO₂ through virtual lime water and watch the color change.
- Understand how excess CO₂ dissolves calcium carbonate.
- Perform reactions multiple times to observe reversible changes.
It’s a cost-effective, safe, and interactive learning environment that removes the risks of handling acids and ensures concept clarity with visual feedback.
Dencity for Teachers
Dencity promotes interactive teaching by giving teachers:
- Control over virtual science experiments.
- Tools to assign homework instantly with built-in assessment.
- Features to create virtual classrooms for real-time science learning.
- Step-by-step guided experiments to improve teaching efficiency.
This makes it an ideal tool for modern-day interactive learning in schools.
Perfect for Smart Classrooms
Dencity is fully optimized for interactive touch panels, enabling seamless classroom demonstrations and student participation through simple touch gestures. It’s ideal for bringing science experiments to life in a digital classroom.
Contact Us for Custom Pricing
Interested in upgrading your science lab? Reach out to us for custom demo sessions and pricing plans tailored to your school’s needs. Let Dencity help you bring the future of science education into your classroom.
10 Frequently Asked Questions
- What gas is produced when acids react with carbonates?
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas. - How do you test for carbon dioxide gas?
By passing it through lime water—if it turns milky, CO₂ is present. - What causes the milkiness in lime water?
Formation of calcium carbonate (CaCO₃). - Why does the milkiness disappear with excess CO₂?
Calcium carbonate dissolves, forming soluble calcium hydrogencarbonate. - What is the importance of effervescence in this experiment?
It visually indicates gas release and confirms a chemical reaction. - Can you perform this experiment safely at home?
No, it involves acids. Use the Dencity app for a safe virtual alternative. - What are some daily uses of this reaction?
Fire extinguishers, detecting CO₂ in labs, understanding geological formations. - What does NaHCO₃ stand for?
Sodium hydrogencarbonate or baking soda. - What happens if you pass CO₂ too fast into lime water?
Milkiness forms quickly and may disappear if too much gas is passed. - How does Dencity help in learning this experiment?
By offering a virtual science lab where reactions can be simulated repeatedly, helping students understand without handling real acids.
