What is the general reaction between an acid and a metal carbonate ?
Answers
Acids and Carbonates
Acids and CarbonatesA carbonate is negatively charged and contains a carbon bonded to three oxygen atoms. The general reaction results in a salt, carbon dioxide gas, and water. The reactions between carbonates and acids are called neutralization reactions because the acid is neutralized.
Acids will react with reactive metals, such as magnesium and zinc, to make a salt and hydrogen.
acid + metal → salt + hydrogen
hydrochloric acid + zinc → zinc chloride + hydrogen
2HCl + Zn → ZnCl2 + H2
The hydrogen causes bubbling during the reaction, and can be detected using a burning splint which produces a squeaky pop sound.
In general, the more reactive the metal, the faster the reaction. This is indicated by more bubbles being given off per second from the metals with higher reactivity, as shown by this diagram.
The diagram shows that aluminium is the most reactive of the four metals, followed by zinc, then iron and finally, copper.
Also note that the reaction of metals with acids is exothermic (ie heat energy is given out).