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Lesson 7 of 7

Chemical reactions: acid and metal carbonate

I can describe what happens when a metal carbonate reacts with an acid and write chemical equations to describe these reactions.

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Lesson 7 of 7
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Chemical reactions: acid and metal carbonate

I can describe what happens when a metal carbonate reacts with an acid and write chemical equations to describe these reactions.

Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. A group of one carbon atom and three oxygen atoms bonded together is called a carbonate group.
  2. Metal carbonate + acid → salt + water + carbon dioxide
  3. The test for carbon dioxide gas is to bubble it through limewater as it turns the solution cloudy (milky).
  4. Rain water is usually a little acidic and when it is more acidic than normal it is called acid rain.
  5. Acid rain reacts with marble to produce a salt, water and carbon dioxide, using up some of the marble.

Keywords

  • Chemical weathering - when rocks are broken down by a chemical change, for example reactions with acid rain

  • Limewater - a colourless solution which is used to test for carbon dioxide. It turns cloudy/milky white when carbon dioxide is bubbled through it

  • Chemical test - when a chemical reaction is carried out to determine the presence of a substance

  • Acid rain - rainwater that is more acidic than usual due to air pollution, usually caused by sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides

Common misconception

Pupils think that acids ‘eat away’ materials and disappear. They observe reactions and see the loss of a reactant, but do not recognise the formation of a new soluble product.

Ensure that pupils understand the concept of solubility and use the words soluble and dissolve when describing the production of metal salts during these reactions.

Different metal carbonates can also be tested during the practical to show that carbon dioxide is produced by all carbonates. Give each group a different carbonate and pool results to save time.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Limewater, conical flask with bung and delivery tube, acid, clamp and stand, test tube, test tube rack.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the following chemical symbols/formulae to their name.

Correct Answer:C,carbon

carbon

Correct Answer:Ca,calcium

calcium

Correct Answer:O₂,oxygen

oxygen

Correct Answer:CO₂,carbon dioxide

carbon dioxide

Q2.
Match the following key terms to their definitions.

Correct Answer:aqueous solution (aq),formed when a substance is dissolved in water

formed when a substance is dissolved in water

Correct Answer:solvent,a liquid in which a solute dissolves

a liquid in which a solute dissolves

Correct Answer:metal salt,a compound formed when an acid reacts with a base

a compound formed when an acid reacts with a base

Correct Answer:neutralisation,when an acid and a base react to produce a neutral solution

when an acid and a base react to produce a neutral solution

Q3.
The word used to describe the release of gas from a chemical reaction in a solution is .

Correct Answer: effervescence, fizzing, bubbling, effervescing

Q4.
When sodium hydroxide is added to hydrochloric acid, what happens to the pH of the solution?

Correct answer: it increases
it decreases
it stays the same
it becomes pH7

Q5.
Which of the following equations is the general equation for a neutralisation reaction?

Correct answer: acid + base → metal salt + water
acid + base → metal salt + hydrogen
acid + base → metal + water
acid + base → salt + water

Q6.
A pupil investigates the neutralisation of hydrochloric acid with sodium hydroxide. They add two drops of universal indicator to the solution, which turned blue. What does this tell them?

Correct answer: The pupil has added too much sodium hydroxide.
Correct answer: The solution is alkaline.
The pupil has added too much hydrochloric acid.
The pupil has used the wrong indicator.

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following is the correct formula for a carbonate group?

CO₁
CO₂
Correct answer: CO₃
C₂O₃

Q2.
metal ________ + acid → metal salt + water + carbon dioxide

base
oxide
nitrate
Correct answer: carbonate
sulfate

Q3.
Match the following gases to the chemical test for that gas.

Correct Answer:hydrogen,produces a squeaky pop

produces a squeaky pop

Correct Answer:oxygen ,relights a glowing splint

relights a glowing splint

Correct Answer:carbon dioxide,turns limewater cloudy

turns limewater cloudy

Q4.
Which of the following statements about rainwater are incorrect?

Correct answer: Rainwater has a pH of about 4.5.
Rainwater is naturally slightly acidic.
Correct answer: Rainwater with a pH higher than 5.6 is called acid rain.
Rainwater and acid rain both react with marble statues.

Q5.
Which of the following are examples of chemical weathering?

The Sun warming rocks, causing them to expand and crack.
Correct answer: Limestone rocks being slowly dissolved by acid rain.
Tree roots growing into cracks in rocks, making them wider so they crack.
Correct answer: Statues made from calcium carbonate very slowly losing their features.

Q6.
Which of the following equations is the correct balanced symbol equation for the reaction between calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid?

CaCO₃(s) + 2HCl(l) → CaCl₂(s) + H₂(g) + CO₂(s)
CaCO₃(s) + HCl(l) → CaCl(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)
Correct answer: CaCO₃(s) + 2HCl(aq) → CaCl₂(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)
CaCO₃(s) + HCl(aq) → CaCl₂(s) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)

Lesson appears in

UnitScience / Acids and bases

Science

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