You added 75cm^3 of 0.5moldm^-3 HCl to impure MgCO2, and some was left unreacted. The unreacted HCl reacted completely with 21.6cm^m of 0.5moldm^-3 NaOH. So what is the percentage purity of the MgCO3 sample?

MgCO3 +2HCl --> MgCl2 + H2O +CO2

For this kind of question, I would always try to convert what I can into moles because that is the link between the solid (the grams of the MgCO3) and the liquid (the HCL and NaOH). Here is my process:

Since mol=conc x vol, the mol of HCl initially added to the impure MgCO3 is 0.5moldm-3 x 75x10-3 dm3 = 0.0375 moles.

The mol of NaOH that reacted with the excess HCl moldm3-3 is 0.5 x 21.6x10-3 dm3 = 0.0108 moles.

Because the NaOH and HCL are in a 1 to 1 molar ratio: (1NaOH + 1HCl --> NaCl +H2O), the mole of excess HCl is also 0.0108.

(All in moles) Total HCl initially added to MgCO3 sample – HCl that actually reacted with (the pure) MgCO3 = Excess HCl (which was reacted with the NaOH).
So, 0.0375 - HCl that actually reacted with (the pure) MgCO= 0.0108.
HENCE, HCl that actually reacted with (the pure) MgCO3 = 0.0375 – 0.0108 = 0.0267 moles.

As the (pure)MgCOand HCl reacted in a 1:2 ratio (see equation above) the mol of MgCO3 is 0.0267/2 = 0.01335

The molecular mass (Mr) of (pure) MgCO3 is 84.3 (worked out from the periodic table)

So as the mass(of pure MgCO3) = mol x Mr, the mass = 0.01335 mol x 84.3 = 1.125g

Since the mass of impure MgCOis 1.25g, the percentage mass of pure MgCOis 1.125/1.25 x100% = 90%

FS
Answered by Febi S. Chemistry tutor

8240 Views

See similar Chemistry A Level tutors

Related Chemistry A Level answers

All answers ▸

Why can both major and minor products be formed during an eimination reaction?


A) What assumptions are made about ideal gases. B) if 14g of an ideal gas is added to a 4 dm3 container at 210Kpa pressure and a temperature of 40oc how many moles were added and suggest the identity of the gas.


Describe and explain the trend of reactivity of group 2 metals with water


Which test would you use to identify the difference between an aldehyde and a ketone? Explain your observations.


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2025 by IXL Learning