Chemistry Calculating Molar Solubility of CaCO3: A Puzzling Problem

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the molar solubility of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) in water and in a sodium carbonate (NaCO3) solution. The calculated molar solubility in pure water is 7.07E-5 M, but confusion arises regarding its solubility in the NaCO3 solution, where the concentration of carbonate ions ([CO3-]) is significantly higher. Participants emphasize that the dissolution will continue until the solubility product constant (Ksp) is satisfied, and the common ion effect must be considered. The use of ICE tables is recommended to accurately account for all sources of carbonate ions in the solution. Understanding these principles clarifies that CaCO3 can still dissolve in the presence of a common ion, albeit at a reduced rate.
samy4408
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Homework Statement
a homework about solubility
Relevant Equations
no equation
hello , i am solving a problem about solubility and the solution seems weird to me , the problem is the following :
we are asked to calculate the molar solubility of (CaCO3) with (Ks = 5*10^-9) in water and in a solution of (NaCO3) with a concentration of 0,1M, knowing that (NaCO3) is totally soluble
i found that the molar solubility in water was s=7,07*10^-5M
the problem is in the second question , the solubility in a solution of (NaCO3) , because [CO3-]>>s
(CaCO3) should not dissolve at all .
that don't match the correction , can anyone tell me what is wrong ?
thanks !
 
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There is no such thing as "should not dissolve at all". It always dissolves till the Ksp is satisfied.
 
7.07E-5 M is a very low concentration. That's 0.0000707 M !
Are you familiar with ICE tables and how you use them to solve these kinds of problems?
 
Borek said:
There is no such thing as "should not dissolve at all". It always dissolves till the Ksp is satisfied.
take this dissolution reaction :
AB => A+ + B-
if we have a large concentration of B- in the water such that [B-] >> Ksp , the dissolution of each molecule of AB will increase the concentration of [B-] (which means that we are going to move away from the equilibrium)
, and we don't have free A+ in the solution so i don't understand how the reaction can shift toward the left
 
samy4408 said:
take this dissolution reaction :
AB => A+ + B-
if we have a large concentration of B- in the water such that [B-] >> Ksp , the dissolution of each molecule of AB will increase the concentration of [B-] (which means that we are going to move away from the equilibrium)
, and we don't have free A+ in the solution so i don't understand how the reaction can shift toward the left

Molar solubility will be the concentration of A^+, so it is just

[A^+]=\frac{K_{sp}}{[B^-]}

You need to take into account all sources of B^- though, as @Mayhem already suggested ICE table is your friend here.
 
"we are asked to calculate the molar solubility of (CaCO3) with (Ks = 5*10^-9) in water and in a solution of (NaCO3) with a concentration of 0,1M, knowing that (NaCO3) is totally soluble
i found that the molar solubility in water was s=7,07*10^-5M
the problem is in the second question , the solubility in a solution of (NaCO3) , because [CO3-]>>s
"

Don't know whether we can help you. At least get the formulae in the question right.
 
Last edited:
Let x be the Ca ion conc. Then the carbonate ion conc will be 0.1+x
 
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