Question

Write the chemical formula and hence balance the following word equation:

$\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{carbonate}\stackrel{\mathrm{Heat}}{\to }\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{carbonate}+\mathrm{Water}+\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}$

Answer 1

The given word equation is$\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{hydrogen}\mathrm{carbonate}\stackrel{\mathrm{Heat}}{\to }\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{carbonate}+\mathrm{Water}+\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}$.

The symbol equation for given word equation is $\mathrm{Ca}{\left({\mathrm{HCO}}_3\right)}_2\stackrel{\mathrm{Heat}}{\to }{\mathrm{CaCO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}+{\mathrm{CO}}_2$

The balancing of the equations is done in the following steps :
Let us count the number of atoms of all the elements in the reactants and products on both sides of the equation.

Element/ion	No. of atoms of reactant(L.H.S)	No. of atoms of products(R.H.S)
$\mathrm{Ca}$	1	1
$\mathrm{H}$	2	2
$\mathrm{C}$	2	1+1
$\mathrm{O}$	3x2	3+1+2

Thus, the number of Ca' atoms, H atoms, C atoms, and O atoms are equal on both sides.

On final inspection, the number of atoms of all the elements on both sides of the equation is equal. Therefore, the equation is balanced.

$\underset{\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{Bicarbonate}}{\mathrm{Ca}{\left({\mathrm{HCO}}_3\right)}_2\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}\stackrel{\mathrm{Heat}}{\to }\underset{\mathrm{Calcium}\mathrm{Carbonate}}{{\mathrm{CaCO}}_3\left(\mathrm{s}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Water}}{{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}+\underset{\mathrm{Carbon}\mathrm{dioxide}}{{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)}$