When solid magnesium carbonate was added to a solution of hydrogen chloride in methylbenzene, there was no apparent reaction

      

When solid magnesium carbonate was added to a solution of hydrogen chloride in methylbenzene, there was no apparent reaction. On addition of water to the resulting mixture, there was vigorous effervescence. Explain these observations.

  

Answers


John
Hydrogen chloride dissolves in methylbenzene but remains molecular. When water is added it ionizes hence reacts with carbonate to form carbon (IV) oxide gas.

OR

Hydrochloric acid + Magnesium carbonate --> Magnesium chloride + Carbon dioxide + Water
Formula Equation: 2 HCl (aq) + MgCO3 (s) ? MgCl2 (aq) + CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
Ionic Equation: 2 H+ (aq) + CO32- (s) --> H2O (l) + CO2 (g)
Description
ACID + CARBONATE --> SALT + WATER + CARBON DIOXIDE

Methyl Benzene is an organic solvent characterized by covalent bonding thus lacking in polarity. Therefore, Hydrogen chloride will dissolve in water (water is a polar compound and will interact with polar HCl)thus forming a solution. This solution is hydrochloric acid, which reacts with magnesium carbonate. Note that a carbonate is a basic salt.
johnmulu answered the question on February 10, 2017 at 14:13


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