Question

What happens when an acid reacts with a metal carbonate? Explain with the help of an example.

Answer 1

When an acid reacts with a metal carbonate (or metal hydrogencarbonate), then a salt, carbon dioxide gas and water are formed.

When dilute hydrochloric acid reacts with sodium carbonate, then sodium chloride, carbon dioxide and water are formed.

\[\ce{\underset{Sodium carbonate}{Na2CO3_{(s)}} + \underset{Hydrochloric acid}{HCl_{(aq)}} -> \underset{Sodium chloride}{2NaCl_{(aq)}} + \underset{dioxide}{\underset{Carbon}{CO2_{(g)}}} + \underset{Water}{H2O_{(l)}}}\]