The recommended daily dose of calcium is 1200 mg. Calcium supplements often use calcium carbonate, #CaCO_3#, as the source of calcium. What mass of #CaCO_3# should be used in a tablet so that one tablet provides the recommended daily dose of calcium?

Question

Noah Aldrich · Accepted Answer

We need a daily dose of over 4 g calcium carbonate.

The number "Moles of calcium" is equal to (1200x10^-3*g)/(40.08*g*mol^-1) = 0.04008*mol. And thus we need #0.04008*mol# #"calcium carbonate"#, i.e. a mass of #0.04008*molxx100.09*g*mol^-1# #=# #??g#.

Henry Antrim · Answer

undefined To find the mass of CaCO3 needed, use the molar mass of CaCO3 (100.09 g/mol) and the molar ratio of CaCO3 to Ca (1:1). Then, calculate the mass needed to provide 1200 mg of calcium.

Mass of CaCO3 = (1200 mg) / (1 mol CaCO3 / 1 mol Ca) = 1200 mg * (1 mol CaCO3 / 1 mol Ca) * (100.09 g / 1 mol) = 1200 * 100.09 mg

Mass of CaCO3 = 120090 mg

Therefore, the mass of CaCO3 needed is 120090 mg.