Thermal Decomposition of Carbonates PCA (Experiment)

Calcium Carbonate decomposes when it is heated, producing calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. Carbon dioxide can be detected using limewater. When carbon dioxide is passed through it the limewater turns milky.

Experiment:
Do all metal carbonates break down in the same way?

Hypothesis;
Some metal carbonates decompose more easily then other when they are heated.

Apparatus:

Eye Protection
Test tubes (2 per carbonate)
Right angled delivery tube
Spatula
Bunsen burner
Clamp stand

Chemicals:
Limewater
Copper Carbonate
Lead Carbonate
Zinc Carbonate
Calcium Carbonate
Magnesium Carbonate


Health and Safety:
-Eye protection must be worn
-It's important not to inhale any substances
-Wash hands after use of chemicals
-Essential for delivery tube to be removed from limewater before removal of bunsen burner


Method:

1. Set up all equipment
2. Measure out 1g of chosen carbonate to be tested
3. Fix delivery tube onto test tube containing carbonate
4. Measure out limewater and clamp boiling tube onto stand
5. 5. Clamp test tube containing carbonate above the bunsen burner
6. Heat metal carbonate (time this) being cautious not to let the carbonate rise. Once limewater is milky record observations
7. Remove limewater and take the bung off the metal carbonate BEFORE you turn off the bunsen burner

Observations can be recorded in a table similar to the one below:

What you should know:

• 2.11 Revise the investigation on the ease of thermal decomposition of carbonates, including calcium carbonate, zinc carbonate and copper carbonate.