Answer:
Like many common group 2 metal carbonates, magnesium carbonate reacts with aqueous acids to release carbon dioxide and water
MgCO3 + 2 HCl → MgCl2 + CO2 + H2O.
The procedure to obtain pure magnesium chloride from the reaction is as thus
Step 1: Reaction
- Leave the dilute hydrochloric acid in a beaker.
- Add Magnesium carbonate slowly until it is in excess or until no more gas seem to be getting liberated.
Step 2: Filtration
- Filter with filter paper and funnel.
- Filter off the excess magnesium carbonate as magnesium chloride will be in aqueous form (liquid) and will come out with the filtrate. The residue is the excess magnesium carbonate.
Step 3: Crystallization to obtain solid crystals from the filtrate.
- Pour filtrate solution into evaporating dish/basin
- Provide heat using Bunsen burner
- Pour solution into an evaporating basin and heat over a water bath
- Stop heating when crystals start to form
allow water to evaporate until pure crystals remain.
- Dry crystals using absorbent paper or warm oven.
Precautions
- Use personal protective equipment such as gloves, a lab coat and wear eye protection, especially when heating.
- Avoid inhaling unnecessary gases during the whole process.
