Determining the Volume of 0.5 M Hydrochloric Acid Required for Complete Reaction with Calcium Carbonate

Understanding the stoichiometry of reactions between calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is crucial for various scientific and industrial applications. This article will guide you through the process of calculating the exact volume of 0.5 M hydrochloric acid needed to react completely with 20 grams of calcium carbonate.

Stoichiometric Reaction Between Calcium Carbonate and Hydrochloric Acid

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid is:

CaCO3(aq) 2HCl(aq) → CaCl2(aq) H2O(l) CO2(g)

This equation indicates that one mole of calcium carbonate reacts with two moles of hydrochloric acid to produce calcium chloride, water, and carbon dioxide.

Calculating the Molar Quantity of Calcium Carbonate

To begin, we need to calculate the molar quantity of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in 20 grams:

Number of moles of CaCO3 mass of CaCO3 / molar mass of CaCO3

Number of moles of CaCO3 20 g / 100.086 g/mol

Number of moles of CaCO3 0.200 mol

Determining the Molar Quantity of Hydrochloric Acid Required

From the balanced chemical equation, the mole ratio of CaCO3 to HCl is 1:2. Therefore, for every 1 mole of CaCO3, we need 2 moles of HCl:

Moles of HCl required 2 moles of HCl / 1 mole of CaCO3 × 0.200 moles of CaCO3

Moles of HCl required 0.400 moles

Calculating the Volume of 0.5 M Hydrochloric Acid

The concentration (molarity) of a solution is defined as the number of moles of solute per liter of solution. Given that the molarity of the HCl solution is 0.5 M (0.5 mol/L), we can determine the volume of HCl solution needed to provide 0.400 moles of HCl:

Volume of HCl solution (L) moles of HCl / molarity of HCl

Volume of HCl solution (L) 0.400 moles / 0.5 mol/L

Volume of HCl solution (L) 0.800 L

Since 1 liter is equal to 1000 milliliters:

Volume of HCl solution (mL) 0.800 L × 1000 mL/L 800 mL

Conclusion

To summarize, the volume of 0.5 M hydrochloric acid required to react completely with 20 grams of calcium carbonate is 800 mL. This calculation is based on the stoichiometric principles governing the reaction between CaCO3 and HCl.

Understanding and applying these principles is essential for various chemical processes, including laboratory experiments, industrial production, and environmental monitoring. By accurately measuring the necessary volumes of reagents, scientists and engineers can optimize their processes and achieve the desired outcomes.