Calcium Carbonate Reaction with Propanoic Acid vs. Nitric Acid

What happens when calcium carbonate is added to propanoic acid, and how does it compare to the reaction of calcium carbonate with nitric acid?

A) It produces carbon dioxide and a salt; the same products as with nitric acid. B) It produces carbon dioxide and a salt; different products compared to nitric acid. C) It produces hydrogen gas and a salt; the same products as with nitric acid. D) It produces hydrogen gas and a salt; different products compared to nitric acid.

Final answer:

Answer:

Calcium carbonate reacts with propanoic acid to produce carbon dioxide, calcium propanoate (a salt), and water. This reaction is analogous to its reaction with nitric acid, except that with nitric acid, the resulting salt is calcium nitrate. Both reactions release carbon dioxide gas and form water, but the salts differ in composition.

When calcium carbonate is added to propanoic acid, it will react similarly to the way it reacts with other acids like nitric acid or hydrochloric acid. The reaction produces carbon dioxide and a salt, as well as water. So, if calcium carbonate reacts with propanoic acid, you will get calcium propanoate, carbon dioxide, and water. When it reacts with nitric acid, it will produce calcium nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water. Although both reactions produce a salt, carbon dioxide, and water, the chemical compositions of the salts are different due to the different acids involved.

Calcium carbonate reacts with acids to form a metal salt, carbon dioxide, and water: CaCO3(s) + 2 H+ (from any acid) -> Metal salt + CO2(g) + H2O(l). With propanoic acid (C2H5COOH), the reaction would be: CaCO3 + 2 C2H5COOH -> Ca(C2H5COO)2 + CO2 + H2O.

For nitric acid reaction, the equation might be: CaCO3 + 2 HNO3 -> Ca(NO3)2 + CO2 + H2O. Here, the produced salt is calcium nitrate instead of calcium propanoate. The difference lies in the anions of the resulting salts (propanoate vs. nitrate) and their properties but not in the type of gaseous product or the fact that water is formed.

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