An analyst is examining a white mineral crust from a limestone cavern, which is believed to consist mainly of magnesium carbonate.
How could the analyst test a sample of this solid mineral to show the presence of carbonate ions?
Complete the sentences by choosing the correct substance from the box below.
[ nitric acid, silver nitrate, limewater, sodium hydroxide, methyl orange ]
When heated strongly, magnesium carbonate undergoes thermal decomposition:
magnesium carbonate(s)→magnesium oxide(s)+carbon dioxide(g) \text{magnesium carbonate}(s) \rightarrow \text{magnesium oxide}(s) + \text{carbon dioxide}(g) magnesium carbonate(s)→magnesium oxide(s)+carbon dioxide(g)To heat the sample, the analyst uses a micro-burner that burns butane gas (C4H10\text{C}_4\text{H}_{10}C4H10).
Identify two ways in which carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, is released into the atmosphere during this experimental procedure.
29 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Chemistry 8.3 Identification of ions by chemical and spectroscopic means, covering 8.3.1 Flame tests, 8.3.2 Metal hydroxides, 8.3.3 Carbonates, 8.3.4 Halides, 8.3.5 Sulfates, 8.3.6 Instrumental methods, and 8.3.7 Flame emission spectroscopy. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.