Lesson 3 What happens when acids react with metal carbonates?
ILO's
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to be able to describe that acids react with metal carbonates to form
salts and identify the gas produced as carbon dioxide.
to be able to identify evidence for a chemical reaction.
to be able to represent reactions by word equations.
to be able to identify the pattern in word equations to produce a general
equation.
Activities
1) Recap the reaction of metals with acids and the pattern of the reactions, hydrogen
gas formed etc.
Display the formula of a metal carbonate, eg ZnCO 3. Ask (i) what gas the pupils think
might be produced from the reaction of a carbonate with an acid and (ii) how to test
that it is carbon dioxide (using lime water). Then demonstrate, in a boiling tube, the
reaction of zinc carbonate with sulphuric acid and prove that the gas is CO 2.
2) Practical: Pupils measure out 25cm3 of 0.5M nitric acid in a 100 cm3 beaker.
 Add a spatula measure of copper carbonate. Keep adding the copper carbonate
until all the fizzing (or effervescence) stops. Add no more, there is no point as
it is now in excess and no further reaction will take place.
 Filter the solution and transfer to an evaporating basin.
 Slowly evaporate the water until the crystals of copper nitrate form.
 Pupils draw a conclusion to the experiment, stating how they knew a reaction had
occurred and highlighting the colour of the crystals formed. Pupils should then
attempt to write a word equation for the reaction and devise a general equation
for the reaction of metal carbonates and acids
3) Pupils should attempt to complete equations of the following reactions. Higher pupils
could attempt the symbol equations and then balance them. Try to complete these for
homework
sodium carbonate + hydrochloric acid
dioxide
Na2CO3 + HCl
sodium chloride + water + carbon
NaCl + H 2O + CO2
sodium carbonate + sulphuric acid
dioxide
Na2CO3 + H2SO4
Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2
sodium sulphate + water + carbon
sodium carbonate + nitric acid
dioxide
Na2CO3 + HNO3
sodium nitrate + water + carbon
NaNO3 + H2O + CO2
calcium carbonate + hydrochloric acid
dioxide
CaCO3 + HCl
CaCl2 + H2O + CO2
calcium carbonate + sulphuric acid
dioxide
CaCO3 + H2SO4
calcium nitrate + water + carbon
Ca(NO3)2 + H2O + CO2
copper carbonate + hydrochloric acid
dioxide
CuCO3 + HCl
copper chloride + water + carbon
CuCl2 + H2O + CO2
copper carbonate + sulphuric acid
dioxide
CuCO3 + H2SO4
calcium sulphate + water + carbon
CaSO4 + H2O + CO2
calcium carbonate + nitric acid
dioxide
CaCO3 + HNO3
calcium chloride + water + carbon
copper sulphate + water + carbon
CuSO4 + H2O + CO2
Resources
Activity
1
2
Resources: lesson 3
Demo
Zinc carbonate powder
1M sulphuric acid
Lime-water
Delivery tube for a boiling tube (1 off)
Class set
Copper carbonate powder, 4 jars
0.5M Nitric acid( 6 bottles)
Filter paper
Matches