The aim of the investigation is to investigate how the concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCL) affects the decomposition of limestone (calcium carbonate).

Authors Avatar

Chemistry plan                                                                               Tarek Dajani

Aim of Investigation:

The aim of the investigation is to investigate how the concentration of hydrochloric acid (HCL) affects the decomposition of limestone (calcium carbonate).

Variables that could affect the outcome of the investigation:

These include:

  1. Temperature
  2. The amount of CaCO3
  3. The state of CaCO3 e.g. Powder, granular, marble
  4. The concentration of acid (HCL)
  5. The amount of acid (HCL)
  6. Catalyst

Variable selected for the investigation is:

  1. Concentration of acid (HCL)

Variables that will remain constant during the investigation are:

  1. Temperature
  2. Amount of lime stone (CaCO3)
  3. The state of lime stone (CaCO3)
  4. Volume of acid (HCL)
  5. No catalyst to be used

Prediction:

I predict that increasing the concentration of acid (HCL) will increase the rate of reaction and thus speed up the decomposition of limestone (CaCO3). My prediction is based on the assumption that with increased concentration of HCL there will be more particles of HCL to collide with CaCO3 hence producing more vigorous reaction that increases the rate of decomposition of limestone. I also predict that the rate of reaction will be directly proportional to the concentration level of the acid. In other words if the concentration level of the acid is doubled, then the rate of reaction measured by the volume of C02 produced in a specified (constant) time will be doubled.

Join now!

Scientific theory for prediction

Basically, at higher concentrations, there are more molecules per litre, so there will be more collisions, so the reaction rate should be higher at the same temperature. Increasing the concentration should increase the reaction rate. However for some reactions, the rate may be proportional to the concentration squared. For some reactions it can even be proportional to the concentration to the power 1.5

The Kinetic Rate Law defines the relationship between concentration and reaction rates. According to the law, the rate is directly proportional to the molar concentrations of each reactant in the ...

This is a preview of the whole essay