Acid rain contains dilute nitric acid and dilute sulfuric acid. Acid rain damages limestone buildings, which are made of calcium carbonate, and iron railings.
The equation for the reaction of limestone with nitric acid is:
CaCO3(s)+2HNO3(aq)→Ca(NO3)2(aq)+H2O(l)+CO2(g)\mathrm{CaCO_{3}(s)} + \mathrm{2HNO_{3}(aq)} \rightarrow \mathrm{Ca(NO_{3})_{2}(aq)} + \mathrm{H_{2}O(l)} + \mathrm{CO_{2}(g)}CaCO3(s)+2HNO3(aq)→Ca(NO3)2(aq)+H2O(l)+CO2(g)
Write the ionic equation for this reaction, including state symbols.
Limestone also reacts with dilute sulfuric acid to form calcium sulfate, water and carbon dioxide. Calcium sulfate is insoluble in water. Write the ionic equation for this reaction, including state symbols.
Explain why sulfate ions appear in the ionic equation in (b), but nitrate ions do not appear in the ionic equation in (a).
Iron reacts with dilute sulfuric acid to form iron(II) sulfate solution and hydrogen. A student writes the ionic equation for this reaction as:
Fe(s)+H+(aq)→Fe2+(aq)+H2(g)\mathrm{Fe(s)} + \mathrm{H^{+}(aq)} \rightarrow \mathrm{Fe^{2+}(aq)} + \mathrm{H_{2}(g)}Fe(s)+H+(aq)→Fe2+(aq)+H2(g)
Explain two errors in this equation.
Aluminium window frames also react with acid rain to form aluminium ions, Al3+\mathrm{Al^{3+}}Al3+, and hydrogen. Write the balanced ionic equation for this reaction. State symbols are not required.
230 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry 1.1 Formulae, equations and hazards, covering 1.1.1 Formulae, word and balanced equations, 1.1.2 Balanced ionic equations, and 1.1.3 Hazard symbols and risk in practical work. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.