Lithium carbonate and Hydrochloric acid Reaction | Li₂CO₃ + HCl

Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) reacts with aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) and emit carbon dioxide gas (CO₂) and give lithium chloride (LiCl) and water (H₂O) as products. Lithium carbonate is a insoluble white precipitate and when reaction happens, precipitate is dissolved and a colourless aqueous solution is given.

In this tutorial, we will discuss followings.

Balanced reaction of Li₂CO₃ and HCl Reactants of reaction Products of reaction Change of oxidation numbers Physical and chemical properties changes during the reaction Health, safety measures of Li₂CO₃, HCl and LiCl

Balanced reaction of Li₂CO₃ and HCl

Li₂CO_3(s) + 2HCl_(aq) → 2LiCl_(aq) + CO_2(g) + H₂O_(l)

According to the stoicheometric equation, One mole of Li₂CO₃ reacts with two moles of HCl. As products, two mole of LiCl, one mole of CO₂ and one mole of H₂O are given.

lithium carbonate hydrochloric acid Li2CO3 HCl reaction

Reactants of reaction

Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃)

Lithium carbonate is a white precipitate and not soluble in water. So, you may see a white solid is being deposited in water when Lithium carbonate is added to water.

Hydrochloric acid

Hydrochloric acid is a strong acid because it readily dissociates to H⁺ and Cl^- ions in water. These Hydrochloric acid solutions show pH values much loess than 7 due to its strong acidic nature.

Products of reaction

Lithium chloride (LiCl)

Lithium chloride is a salt and soluble in water to form a colourless aqueous solution.

Change of oxidation numbers

This reaction is not a redox reaction because oxidation numbers of atoms are not changed during the reaction.

Lithium's only oxidation state is +1. In both Li₃CO₃ and LiCl, Lithium's is at +2 oxidation state.
Chlorine's oxidation number in HCl is -1. And also, in LiCl too, oxidation number of chlorine is -1.

Physical and chemical observation of Li₂CO₃ and HCl reaction

Here, we will see some physical observations and chemical properties changes during the reaction. These observations are important to identify compounds from other compounds in the qualitative analysis.

Colour and physical state changes

As mentioned earlier, Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is not soluble in water and exist as a white precipitate. Aqueous hydrochloric acid (HCl) is a colourless solution.
Lithium chloride is soluble in water and give a colourless aqueous solution. Carbon dioxide is a gas at room temperature and poorly soluble in water.

pH change

Reactants: Though Li₂CO₃ is not soluble in water, due to presence of very low soluble carbonate ion amount in water, pH value will be just over 7. But HCl is strong acid and should show pH value less than 7.
Products: Lithium chloride is a salt. Both Li⁺ and Cl^- ions are stable in water and do not participating in hydrolysis reaction. Though all HCl and Li₂CO₃ are completely reacted with each other, due to presence of CO₂ gas molecules in water, Carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) acid can formed in minor quantities and In such cases, pH of final solution should be less than seven.

Safety, health hazards and environmental impacts due to Li₂CO₃, HCl, LiCl

HCl: You should be extremely careful when diluted HCl solution is prepared by concentrated HCl becauase HCl vapour can harm eyes and skin. Also, it is toxic if inhaled. Serious skin burns are possible and wear personal protective equipments (PPEs) always using this chemical.
Li₂CO₃: Harmful if swallowed, Causes skin irritation, Causes serious eye irritation, May cause respiratory irritation.
LiCl: Harmful if swallowed, Causes skin irritation, Causes serious eye irritation, May cause respiratory irritation.

Questions

Calculate how much carbon dioxide gas is emitted when 0.739 g of Lithium carbonate reacts with 100 cm³ of aqueous 0.1 mol dm^-3 HCl solution?

Here, we will solve this problem in several steps.

Step 1: Calculate amount of reactants.

Amount of available Li₂CO₃ = 0.739 g/ 73.9 g mol^-1
Amount of available Li₂CO₃ = 0.01 mol

Amount of available HCl = 0.1 mol dm^-3 * 100 * 10^-3 dm³
Amount of available HCl = 0.01 mol

As the next step, write the balanced equation between Li₂CO₃ and HCl

Li₂CO_3(s) + 2HCl_(aq) → 2LiCl_(aq) + CO_2(g) + H₂O_(l)

Deciding limiting reagent

According to the balanced equation, 2 moles of HCl are required to react with 1 mol of Li₂CO₃. Therefore, 0.02 mol of HCl is required to react with 0.01 mol of Li₂CO₃. But, there is only 0.01 mol of HCl available to react with 0.01 mol of Li₂CO₃. So, all HCl is consumed and HCl is the limiting reagent in this reaction. Therefore, 0.005 mol of Li₂CO₃ remains in the solution.

Reacted HCl amount = 0.01 mol
Reacted Li₂CO₃ amount = 0.005 mol
Remaining Li₂CO₃ amount = 0.005 mol

Generated CO₂ amount

0.005 mol of CO₂ gas is generated.

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Lithium carbonate and Hydrochloric acid Reaction | Li2CO3 + HCl

Balanced reaction of Li2CO3 and HCl

Li2CO3(s) + 2HCl(aq) → 2LiCl(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)