Question

Test to distinguish between carbonate and bicarbonate

Answer 1

Answer:

One important chemical test to differentiate carbonate and bicarbonate is MgSO4 test. When carbonate salt is reacted with MgSO4, a white salt precipited while bicarbonate salt on reacting with MgSO4, not only a white salt precipited but also a brisk effervescence occur.

Answer 2

Answer:

Sodium bicarbonate, with the chemical formula NaHCO3, is the white powder widely known as baking soda. ... The basic test for the presence of carbonate salts is a reaction with a diluted acid solution that leads to release of bubbles of the gas carbon dioxide and follows the reaction: NaHCO3 + HCl = NaCl + H2O + CO2.