Why does calcium carbonate undergo mass loss upon heating?

Answer 1

Because of gas evolution...

#CaCO_3(s) + Delta rarr CaO(s) + CO_2(g)uarr#

Clearly, the carbonate is decomposed, with concomitant loss of mass as carbon dioxide gas. Typically, the product gas will be shunted to a solution of lime water (#Ca(OH)_2#), where the carbonate will be reconstituted:

#Ca(OH)_2(aq) + CO_2(g) rarr CaCO_3(s) + H_2O(l)#

Should mass and charge be conserved in both reactions?

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Answer 2

Owen Ambrose

Calcium carbonate undergoes mass loss upon heating due to decomposition. Heating breaks down calcium carbonate into calcium oxide (CaO) and carbon dioxide (CO2), causing the loss of mass.

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Answer from HIX Tutor

When evaluating a one-sided limit, you need to be careful when a quantity is approaching zero since its sign is different depending on which way it is approaching zero from. Let us look at some examples.