What happens when excess carbon dioxide is passed through lime water?a...
Understanding Lime Water Reaction with Carbon Dioxide
When excess carbon dioxide is passed through lime water (a saturated solution of calcium hydroxide), a series of chemical reactions occur that ultimately lead to the observed outcomes.
Initial Reaction
- Lime water is clear due to the presence of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2).
- When carbon dioxide (CO2) is introduced, it reacts with calcium hydroxide to form calcium carbonate (CaCO3).
Formation of Calcium Carbonate
- The reaction can be summarized as follows:
Ca(OH)2 + CO2 → CaCO3 + H2O
- Calcium carbonate is insoluble in water, leading to the formation of a white precipitate, which can make the lime water appear milky.
Excess Carbon Dioxide Impact
- If an excess amount of carbon dioxide is passed through the lime water, the following reaction takes place:
CaCO3 + CO2 + H2O → Ca(HCO3)2
- This reaction converts the precipitate (calcium carbonate) back into calcium bicarbonate (calcium hydrogen carbonate), which is soluble in water.
Final Observation
- As a result of this reaction, the initial milkiness of the lime water disappears, leading to a clear solution again.
- This explains why the correct answer is option 'D': The milkiness of the lime water disappears when excess carbon dioxide is passed through it.
In summary, the initial reaction creates a milky solution due to calcium carbonate formation, but excess CO2 causes the precipitation to dissolve, restoring the clarity of the lime water.