I'm afraid that mixing vinegar and Calcium carbonate and water will not
result in the formation of Calcium oxide. Even if the Calcium carbonate
could react with Vinegar to form calcium oxide, calcium oxide would
readily react with water in order to create calcium hydroxide. Calcium
carbonate and vinegar (ethanoic acid) will react in a Lewis acid/base
reaction to yield calcium acetate, carbon dioxide, and water.
You are on the right track, though, where it comes to getting rid of CO2
Calcium carbonate is converted into Calcium oxide by heating the
calcium carbonate to very high temperatures (500-600 degrees Celcius)
The reaction looks like this:
CaCO3 ----> CaO + CO2
In order to drive the reaction equilibrium to the right (to get
better yields), the CO2 is removed from the system as it is formed,
prompting the formation of more CO2 (and more CaO).
Jason
(published on 10/22/2007)
