CaCO3 and Vinegar

Most recent answer: 10/22/2007

Q:
Representatives: Is it possible to convert Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3)into Calcium Oxide (CaO), mixing CaCO3 with water and vinegar and boiling this mixture?. The reason of boiling would be to take the CO2 out of the CaCO3.- I will be looking for you response. Regards
- Ramon Jimenez (age 63)
Dominican Republic
A:
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)