Question

Why potassium carbonate cannot be prepared by solvay process

Answer 1

Solvay process is the preparation of Na2CO3.

In solvay process, the following reactions take place :

1) NH3 + CO2 ---> NH4HCO3

2) NH4HCO3 + NaCl ---> NaHCO3 + NH4Cl

3) NaHCO3 ---> Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O

Here, the NaHCO3 formed in the second step is precipitated using common ion effect (due to its high solubility) and then heated so that it decomposes to give Na2CO3.

Similarly to prepare K2CO3 using solvay process, we have to first precipitate KHCO3 and then heat it to get K2CO3.

But the solubility of KHCO3 is so high that it cannot be precipitated out even by using Common ion effect.

Hence K2CO3 cannot be prepared using Solvay process.

Hope it helps!!

Answer 2

Answer:

The Solvay process or ammonia-soda process is the major industrial process for the production of sodium carbonate. The ammonia-soda process was developed into its modern form by the Belgian chemist Ernest Solvay during the 1860s. The ingredients for this are readily available and inexpensive: salt brine and limestone.