"Published in Newark, California, USA"
A 250 mg sample containing 45% MgCO3 and 55% CaCO3 was ignited producing CO2 as decomposition product. Assuming that the decomposition reaction is complete, what is the change in weight of a NaOH solution used to absorb CO2?
Solution:
From the description of a given problem, it is about decomposition reaction. The mixture of MgCO3 and CaCO3 is decomposed by heat as follows
and then NaOH solution is used to absorb CO2 as follows
By gravimetric analysis, the weight of CO2 from MgCO3 is
By gravimetric analysis, the weight of CO2 from CaCO3 is
Therefore, the change of weight of a NaOH solution used to absorb CO2 which is also equal to the total weight of CO2 is
