Calcium Carbonate [Chemical formula, Physical, Chemical Properties and Reactions]

By: Prof. Dr. Fazal Rehman Shamil | Last updated: February 3, 2024

The chemical formula of calcium carbonate is CaCO3.

Physical Properties of Calcium Carbonate:

Properties Details
AppearanceWhite, odorless powder
Crystal StructureHexagonal or trigonal
Density2.71 g/cm³
Hardness3 on the Mohs scale
Melting PointDecomposes at around 825°C (1517°F)
pHBasic (alkaline)
Refractive Index1.59
SolubilityInsoluble in water
StateSolid

Chemical Properties of Calcium Carbonate:

PropertiesDetails
Chemical FormulaCaCO₃
EffervescenceCalcium carbonate exhibits effervescence when reacted with acids
HygroscopicityCalcium carbonate is slightly hygroscopic
Reaction with AcidsReacts with acids to produce carbon dioxide and a salt
Reaction with Carbon DioxideReacts with carbon dioxide to form calcium bicarbonate
Reaction with HeatDecomposes upon heating to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide
Reaction with WaterInsoluble in water
Reactivity with Other MetalsCalcium carbonate reacts with certain metals to form corresponding metal carbonates
Reactivity with Oxidizing AgentsIt can react with strong oxidizing agents
Thermal DecompositionDecomposes at high temperatures to form calcium oxide and carbon dioxide

Reaction Of Calcium Carbonate

Alkali Metal

Alkali MetalReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Lithium (Li)2Li + CaCO3 react and changes into Li2CO3 + Ca
Sodium (Na)2Na + CaCO3 react and changes into Na2CO3 + Ca
Potassium (K)2K + CaCO3 react and changes into K2CO3 + Ca
Rubidium (Rb)2Rb + CaCO3 react and changes into Rb2CO3 + Ca
Cesium (Cs)2Cs + CaCO3 react and changes into Cs2CO3 + Ca

 

Alkaline Earth Metal

 

Alkaline Earth MetalReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Beryllium (Be)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Magnesium (Mg)Mg + CaCO3 react and changes into MgCO3 + Ca
Calcium (Ca)CaCO3 + Ca react and changes into 2CaO + CO2
Strontium (Sr)Sr + CaCO3 react and changes into SrCO3 + Ca
Barium (Ba)Ba + CaCO3 react and changes into BaCO3 + Ca

 

Transition Metal

Transition MetalReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Scandium (Sc)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Titanium (Ti)Ti + 2CaCO3 react and changes into TiO2 + 2CaO + 2CO2
Vanadium (V)2V + 5CaCO3 + 11/2O2 react and changes into 2V2O5 + 5CaO + 5CO2
Chromium (Cr)2Cr + 3CaCO3 + 2O2 react and changes into 2Cr2O3 + 3CO2 + 3CaO
Manganese (Mn)2Mn + 3CaCO3 + 2O2 react and changes into 2MnO2 + 3CO2 + 3CaO
Iron (Fe)2Fe + 3CaCO3 + 2O2 react and changes into 2FeO + 3CO2 + 3CaO

 

 

Non-Transition Metal

 

Non-Transition MetalReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Boron (B)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Carbon (C)CaCO3 + 2HCl react and changes into CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
Nitrogen (N)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Oxygen (O)2CaCO3 + 2SO2 + O2 react and changes into 2CaSO4 + 2CO2
Fluorine (F)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Neon (Ne)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Aluminum (Al)2Al + 3CaCO3 + 3H2O react and changes into Al2O3 + 3CO2 + 3Ca(OH)2
Silicon (Si)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Phosphorus (P)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Sulfur (S)CaCO3 + 2H2SO4 react and changes into CaSO4 + H2O + CO2 + SO2
Chlorine (Cl)CaCO3 + 2HCl react and changes into CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

Non-Metal

 

Non-MetalReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Hydrogen (H)CaCO3 + 2HCl react and changes into CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
Helium (He)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Boron (B)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Carbon (C)CaCO3 + 2HCl react and changes into CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O
Nitrogen (N)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Oxygen (O)2CaCO3 + 2SO2 + O2 react and changes into 2CaSO4 + 2CO2
Fluorine (F)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Neon (Ne)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Phosphorus (P)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Sulfur (S)CaCO3 + 2H2SO4 react and changes into CaSO4 + H2O + CO2 + SO2
Chlorine (Cl)CaCO3 + 2HCl react and changes into CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O

Metalloid

 

MetalloidReaction with Calcium Carbonate
Boron (B)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Silicon (Si)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Germanium (Ge)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Arsenic (As)As2O3 + 3CaCO3 + 3C react and changes into 2As + 3CO2 + 3CaO
Antimony (Sb)No reaction with calcium carbonate
Tellurium (Te)No reaction with calcium carbonate