Neutralization Question

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Temperature101

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How many milliliters of 0.60M HCL are required to neutralize 3.0 grams CaCO3 ?

A. 50 mL
B. 100 mL
C. 200 mL
D. 300 mL

Answer is B.

BR explain it, but I dont get the way they explain it.
 
How many milliliters of 0.60M HCL are required to neutralize 3.0 grams CaCO3 ?

A. 50 mL
B. 100 mL
C. 200 mL
D. 300 mL

Answer is B.

BR explain it, but I dont get the way they explain it.

3 grams of CaCO3 is 0.03 mol, yes? So that means we need double this amount, 0.03*2 = 0.06 mol of acid to neutralize. The reason it is double is because HCl is monoprotic while each carbonate ion can consume two protons.

0.6 M =0.03*2 / L
L = 0.1

so it's 0.1 liters or 100 mL.
 
Last edited:
Just to help, the balanced equation would be:

2HCl + CaCO3 ----> Ca(2+) + 2Cl(-) + H2CO3

You could also simply realize CO3 has a -2 charge, meaning its oxygens are willing to accept 2 protons.
Once you realize this, it is a simple matter of converting grams -> moles, adjusting based on coefficients, and then finding the volume.
 
Just to help, the balanced equation would be:

2HCl + CaCO3 ----> Ca(2+) + 2Cl(-) + H2CO3

You could also simply realize CO3 has a -2 charge, meaning its oxygens are willing to accept 2 protons.
Once you realize this, it is a simple matter of converting grams -> moles, adjusting based on coefficients, and then finding the volume.
It makes sense now... thanks
 
It's likely that almost any neutralization reaction that comes up on the MCAT will require you to balance first! I've got to remember that myself.
 
3 grams of CaCO3 is 0.03 mol, yes? So that means we need double this amount, 0.03*2 = 0.06 mol of acid to neutralize. The reason it is double is because HCl is monoprotic while each carbonate ion can consume two protons.

0.6 M = 0.03 / L
L = 0.1

so it's 0.1 liters or 100 mL.

You lost me there.
 
oops. mistake. switch the two numbers! D:

Your numbers are still off, I think.

You have 0.03 moles CO3(2-), so you need 0.03*2 moles HCl (per balanced equation) 0.06 moles HCL

Your concentration is 0.6 moles/liter HCl

That means for every liter of solution, you have 0.6 moles HCl
But you don't need 0.6 moles, you need 0.06 moles.
So 0.06/0.6 = 0.1 L, or 100ml

Don't really need to do the math, just think about it:
0.6 moles in 1L, I need one tenth of that, so I need one tenth of a liter.
 

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