Tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid is not used for making carbon dioxide from calcium carbonate? This is because it

Source: JAMB · 2024

Tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid is not used for making carbon dioxide from calcium carbonate? This is because it

  1. is a dehydrating agent
  2. is a strong acid
  3. is an oxidising agent
  4. forms insoluble calcium tetraoxosulphate(VI) ✓
Explanation

Calcium carbonate reacts with acid to give carbon (IV) oxide: CaCO₃ + 2H⁺ → Ca²⁺ + CO₂ + H₂O.

With tetraoxosulphate(VI) acid, the salt formed is calcium tetraoxosulphate(VI), CaSO₄. It is almost insoluble in water. It coats the surface of the marble or limestone and stops the acid reaching the rest of the carbonate. The reaction soon slows down and stops.

Being a strong acid is not the problem, since hydrochloric acid is also strong and works well. Its calcium salt, CaCl₂, is soluble, so no coating forms.

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