Describe an activity to show the effect of an acid on carbonates and hydrogen carbonates.

All metal carbonates and hydrogen carbonates react with acids to give a corresponding salt, carbon dioxide, and water. Thus, the reaction can be summarized as:

The activity describing the effect of acid on metal carbonates and metal bicarbonates is :

1. Take small amount of metal carbonate (Zinc Carbonate) in Test tube A and metal bicarbonate (Zinc hydrogen carnonate) in test tube B.
2. Pour few drops of Sulphuric acid in both the Test Tubes. You will notice evolution of a colourless gas.
3. Pass the evolved gas in both the test tube through lime water, with the help of delievery tube.
4. You will notice that, the lime water turns colorless, in both the cases. This indicates that the evolved gas id Carbon-di-oxide.

For example, zinc carbonate on reacting with sulphuric acid produces zinc sulphate, water, and carbon dioxide as follows:

Similarly, zinc hydrogen carbonate on reacting with sulphuric acid produces zinc sulphate, water, and carbon dioxide as follows: