Preparation and testing of carbon dioxide

React marble chips with dilute hydrochloric acid and test the gas given off.

Objectives

  • Prepare carbon dioxide from a carbonate and an acid.
  • Identify carbon dioxide by its tests.

Theory

Carbonates react with acids to give a salt, water and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide is denser than air, does not support burning and turns limewater milky by forming insoluble calcium carbonate.

CaCO₃ + 2HCl → CaCl₂ + H₂O + CO₂↑

Procedure

  1. Put on your safety goggles and lab coat.
  2. Place a conical flask on the bench.
  3. Add about 10 g of marble chips.
  4. Add about 50 mL of dilute hydrochloric acid.
  5. Observe the effervescence.
  6. Test the gas with a burning splint.
  7. Test the gas with limewater.

Precautions

  • Add the acid slowly to avoid frothing over.
Subject
Chemistry
Grade
9–10
Chapter
Some Gases (Nepal National Curriculum (CDC), grade 9)
Difficulty
Easy
Duration
15 min
Safety level
Low
Version
1.0

Apparatus

  • Conical flask (250 mL)

Chemicals

  • Calcium carbonate (marble chips) CaCO₃
  • Dilute hydrochloric acid HCl Corrosive

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