What happens when limestone comes in contact with an acid? Why?

Question

Mila Bautista · Accepted Answer

The limestone dissolves to form a salt (in the chemical sense), water, and carbon dioxide.

The primary component of limestone is calcium carbonate. In chemistry, carbon dioxide, water, and a metal salt are created when acids and metal carbonates react. #2H_((aq))^++CO_(3(s))^(2-)->H_2CO_(3(aq))->H_2O_((l))+CO_(2(g))# Thus, for instance, with calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid, #2HCl_((aq))+CaCO_(3(s))->CaCl_(2(aq))+H_2CO_(3(aq))->CaCl_(2(aq))+H_2O_((l))+CO_(2(g))# which causes the formation of carbon dioxide, water, and calcium chloride. The formerly insoluble limestone rock will appear to dissolve and erode because everything that is produced is either a liquid, a gas, or soluble salt that simply evaporates or flows off as runoff. FYI, the #H_2CO_(3(aq))# I showed, carbonic acid, which is found in seawater, can also erode limestone, in the same way, albeit more slowly than stronger acids like hydrochloric acid, and thus is one of the ways coastal erosion occurs (corrosion / solution).

Isaac Abel · Answer

undefined When limestone comes in contact with an acid, a chemical reaction occurs. The acid reacts with the calcium carbonate in the limestone to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and a soluble calcium salt. This reaction is known as acid erosion or chemical weathering of limestone. The equation for this reaction is:

CaCO3 (limestone) + 2H+ (acid) -> CO2 (gas) + H2O (water) + Ca2+ (soluble calcium salt)