Question

Design an experiment:

Scenario: You work for an environmental waste management firm. A large volume of a white powdery solid is found at a waste dump. The label is torn, but you can decipher the last word of the label. It reads “rbonate.” How could you verify if this sample is indeed a carbonate?

**Next, design an experiment that might allow you to determine the exact identity of the carbonate. Give as much detail as necessary. Use the reserve side of this sheet or attach another sheet if necessary. ** (I need this one answered please!!)

Answer 1

Carbonates can be identified by:

1. Mix in a dilute acid.
2. Collect the gas formed.
3. Bubble the gas through lime water.
4. If a white precipitate forms, carbonates were present.

If a white precipitate forms, the salt is either a chloride or a carbonate. The next step is to treat the precipitate with a small amount of concentrated nitric acid. If the precipitate remains unchanged, then the salt is a chloride. If carbon dioxide is formed and the precipitate disappears, the salt is a carbonate.

All carbonates are insoluble except those of potassium, sodium and ammonium.

Therefore, if salt is insoluble then it will be any of the three above.

And also depending on the appearance of the powder (salt), that is it's color, odor and form, you can have an idea about the carbonate.

I am adding link to a URL where you can find these properties.

URL link: https://cameochemicals.noaa.gov/search/results