Making magnisium carbonate (MgCO3)

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MAKING MAGNISIUM CARBONATE (MgCO3)

MgCO3 is white very lightweight powder that is practically insoluble in water.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          
Magnesium carbonate is made by precipitation from a solution of magnesium sulphate and sodium carbonate.
Heavy and light varieties are available. A solution of magnesium sulphate and sodium carbonate makes light magnesium carbonate.

Magnesium carbonate is a compound. Compounds are formed when the atoms of two or more elements join together

PRECIPITATION

Precipitation reaction is reaction that starts with liquids solutions and gets a result with a solid. Precipitates are compounds which are practically insoluble in water. The occurrence of this reactions forms an insoluble compound which is a solid and because this solid is formed quickly its particles are very small making the solution cloudy or collects at the bottom of the test tube as a powder

MgSO4 (aq) + NaCO3 (aq)                                          MgCO3 (s) + NaSO4 (aq)

From the equation above MgSO4 (aq) and NaCO3 (aq) are both liquids and their result include MgCO3 (s) which is a solid compound formed by precipitation.

IONIC BONDING

Forces that hold ionic compounds together form ionic bond. Ionic bonding happens between metals and non-metals. In Ionic bonding involves the transfer of electrons from one atom to another. At its neutral state an atom has as much number of electrons as protons. Electrons have a negative charge while protons have a positive charge for example an Mg atom has 12 electrons and 12 protons

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Atoms have different number of shells depending on the amount of electrons it has. The innermost shell of an electron can have a maximum of two (2) electrons and the next shell that follows can have a maximum of eight (8).

The fewer electrons an atom has on its outer shell the more easily they lose. For example Mg atom has 12 electrons therefore its electronic configuration is 2, 8, 2. This means it outer shell has only 2 electrons making it easier for it to lose electrons.

In MgCO3 the mg atom loses the two 2 electrons on its ...

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