Question

When limestone (calcium carbonate) is strongly heated, it breaks down into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. If 88 grams of carbon dioxide is released when 200 grams of limestone is heated, how much calcium oxide is produced in this reaction? A. 56 grams B. 88 grams C. 112 grams D. 200 grams

Answer 1

Answer: The correct answer is Option C.

Explanation:

Law of conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another form.

This also means that total mass on the reactant side must be equal to the total mass on the product side.

The chemical equation for the decomposition of limestone follows:

$CaCO_3\rightarrow CaO+CO_2$

Let the mass of calcium oxide be 'x' grams

We are given:

Mass of carbon dioxide = 88 grams

Mass of calcium carbonate = 200 grams

Total mass on reactant side = 200 g

Total mass on product side = 88 + x

So, by applying law of conservation of mass, we get:

$200=88+x\\\\x=112g$

The mass of calcium oxide that would be produced is 112 grams.

Hence, the correct answer is Option C.

Answer 2

Answer: C. 112 grams

Using the law of conservation of mass, you can say that the total mass of the reactant would be equal to total mass of the product. The reactant of this reaction would be 200g CaCO3(calcium carbonate). The product would be x g calcium oxide(CaO) and 88g carbon dioxide(CO2). The calculation would be:

reactant = product
200g= 88g+ x
x= 200g-88g= 112g