Home

Home
Common Compounds
Exam Guide
FAQ
Features
Glossary
Construction Kits
Companion Notes
Just Ask Antoine!
Simulations
Slide Index
Toolbox
Tutorial Index

FAQ
Introduction
Measurement
Matter
Atoms & ions
Compounds
Chemical change
The mole
Gases
Energy & change
The quantum theory
Electrons in atoms
The periodic table
Chemical bonds
Solids
Liquids
Solutions
Acids & bases
Redox reactions
Reaction rates
Organic chemistry
Everyday chemistry
Inorganic chemistry
Environmental chemistry
Laboratory
History of chemistry
Miscellaneous


Home :FAQ :Acids and basesPrint | Comment
Previous Question Next Question

What are the products of the reaction between limestone and acidic water?

When limestone (CaCO3) reacts with the hydronium ion, what are all the products produced?

Eroded Marble Headstones at Blean, Kent County, England

The equilibrium solubility of limestone (and marble) exposed to the atmosphere is dominated by the following reactions:

CaCO3(s) + H3O+(aq) = Ca2+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)
HCO3- + H3O+(aq) = CO2(aq) + 2 H2O(l)
H3O+(aq) + CO32-(aq) = HCO3-(aq) + H2O(l)

These reactions are responsible for the erosion of the marble stones in the photo to the right. The main cast of characters is

calcium ion, Ca2+(aq)
bicarbonate ion, HCO3-(aq)
carbonate ion, CO32-(aq)
hydrated CO2, CO2(aq)

Carbonic acid, H2CO3(aq) makes a cameo appearance. Only about one percent of the total dissolved CO2 present is actually in the form of carbonic acid, so the formation and acid dissociation equilibria are worth mentioning, but are frequently overemphasized:

CO2(aq) + H2O(l) = H2CO3(aq)
H2CO3(aq) + H2O(l) = H3O+(aq) + HCO3-(aq)

There are a couple of bit players as well. Calcium forms a carbonato complex CaCO30(aq).

Ca2+(aq) + CO32-(aq) = CaCO30(aq)

The log of the equilibrium constant for this reaction has been determined to be 3.22 +/- 0.14 (see Reference 1); it is important for very concentrated calcium and carbonate solutions. There is also a calcium hydrogencarbanato complex CaHCO3+(aq):

Ca2+(aq) + HCO3-(aq) = CaHCO3+(aq)

with a log K of 1.1 +/- 0.07 (Reference 1) so under certain conditions this, too, can be present in nonegligible quantities.

Last but not least, the hydrated carbon dioxide will diffuse out of solution, adding to atmospheric CO2:

CO2(aq) = CO2(g)

The further adventures of CO2(g) are a story for another time.

References
  1. L. N. Plummer, E. Busenberg (1982). The solubilities of calcite, aragonite, and vaterite in CO2-H2O solutions between 0 and 90°C, and an evaluation of the aqueous model for the system CaCO3-CO2-H2O. Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 46, 1011-1040.

Author: Fred Senese senese@antoine.frostburg.edu



General Chemistry Online! What are the products of the reaction between limestone and acidic water?

Copyright © 1997-2010 by Fred Senese
Comments & questions to fsenese@frostburg.edu
Last Revised 02/23/18.URL: http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/acidbase/faq/limestone-acid-reaction.shtml