Calcium carbonate
Calcium carbonate
IUPAC name
Calcium carbonate
Other names
Limestone; calcite; aragonite;
chalk; marble
Identifiers
CAS number
[471-34-1]
RTECS number
FF9335000
ChemSpider ID
9708
Properties
Molecular
formula
CaCO3
Molar mass
100.09 g/mol
Appearance
Fine white powder.
Density
2.71 g/cm3 (calcite)
2.83 g/cm3 (aragonite)
Melting point
825 °C (calcite)
1339 °C (aragonite)
Boiling point
decomposes
Solubility in
water
.00015 mol/L (25°C)
Solubility
product, Ksp
4.8 x 10-9 [1]
Solubility in di-
lute acids
soluble
Hazards
MSDS
ICSC 1193
EU Index
Not listed
NFPA 704
0
0
0
Flash point
Non-flammable
Related compounds
Other anions
Calcium bicarbonate
Other cations
Magnesium carbonate
Strontium carbonate
Barium carbonate
Related
compounds
Calcium sulfate
Except where noted otherwise, data are given for
materials in their standard state
(at 25 °C, 100 kPa)
Infobox references
Calcium carbonate is a chemical compound with the
chemical formula CaCO3. It is a common substance found
in rock in all parts of the world, and is the main compon-
ent of shells of marine organisms, snails, pearls, and egg-
shells. Calcium carbonate is the active ingredient in agri-
cultural lime, and is usually the principal cause of hard
water. It is commonly used medicinally as a calcium sup-
plement or as an antacid, but high consumption can be
hazardous.
Occurrence
Calcium carbonate is found naturally as the following
minerals and rocks:
• Aragonite
• Calcite
• Vaterite or (μ-CaCO3)
• Chalk (Blackboard chalk is calcium sulfate, CaSO4)
• Limestone
• Marble
• Travertine
To test whether a mineral or rock contains carbonate,
strong acids such as hydrochloric acid or sulfuric acid
can be added to it; if the sample does contain carbonate,
it will fizz and produce carbon dioxide and water. (Al-
though sulfuric acid reacts, the reaction soon ceases
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Calcium carbonate
1
because the calcium sulfate produced is rather insoluble
in water and limits the reaction.) Weak acids such as
acetic acid will react, al