DISSOLVING STONES
Rustam Sardarli, Mariya Sardarli
Teacher: Mrs. Sonia Candler
Westbrook Elementary School
Edmonton, Alberta
ABSTRACT
Weak acid (vinegar) dissolves limestone and calcite. During the
chemical reaction vinegar breaks calcium carbonate and carbon dioxide is
released.
We calculated the mass loss and the rate of mass loss of the samples
after the treatment in vinegar. The rate of mass loss increases, reaches its
maximum after about 20 hours for all the samples and then decreases.
We determined the main characteristics such as color, luster, streak,
hardness and the specific gravity of limestone and calcite before and after the
treatment in vinegar. The treatment in weak acid lowers the hardness of the
samples.
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