The aim of this investigation is to find out the factors that affect the rate of reaction between limestone (calcium carbonate) and hydrochloric acid.

The first 200 words of this essay...

Becki miller

Rates of reaction coursework

Aim

The aim of this investigation is to find out the factors that affect the rate of reaction between limestone (calcium carbonate) and hydrochloric acid.

Background information

Rain water once was the purest form of water available but now it is often contaminated by pollutants in the air. Factories and power stations give out oxides of nitrogen and sulphur as pollution, this combined with atmospheric moisture creates acid rain and over a period of time dissolves things made of marble such as statues and building fronts, this is because the acid dissolves the calcium carbonate in the stone and when the solution evaporates it forms crystals in the stone, as the crystals grow they break apart the stone and the structure crumbles. This is called chemical weathering.

The investigation will be a laboratory based version of chemical weathering to determine how different concentrations of acid affect the rate of reaction.

Plan

The following is the chemical equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.

Calcium + hydrochloric -> Calcium + water + Carbon

Carbonate acid chloride dioxide