Question
Question: Write the name of the compound represented by the following formulae. \(CaC{O_3}\)....
Write the name of the compound represented by the following formulae.
CaCO3.
Solution
A chemical compound is a type of pure substance containing two or more elements in a fixed ratio by mass and bounded by a chemical bond. The compound has completely different properties than its constituent elements. The constituent elements in a compound can be separated by performing a variety of chemical reactions. Each chemical compound has a unique structure.
Complete step by step answer:
Here, we have to identify the name of the compound denoted by chemical formula, CaCO3.
Let us first understand the meaning and significance of the chemical formula of a compound.
The chemical formula of a compound is the representation of the proportion of atoms of constituent elements present in that compound with the help of symbols of elements and numbers. While writing a chemical formula of a compound, dashes, brackets, comma, plus and minus signs are also used along with symbols and numbers.
Here, the chemical formula given is CaCO3. To identify the name of the compound from its formula, we have to identify the element represented by each symbol in the formula.
The symbol Ca stands for element calcium, which is a metal.
The symbol C stands for element carbon, which is a non-metal.
The symbol O stands for element oxygen, which is a non-metal.
The compound CaCO3 is an ionic compound, formed by the combination of cation, Ca+ and anion CO3−. The anion CO3− is a polyatomic ion, known as carbonate. The polyatomic ion is an ion composed of more than one atom.
Let us combine names for two parts of compound, Ca and CO3− that is calcium and carbonate.
On combining these two parts, we get the name of the compound represented by the formula CaCO3 and the name is calcium carbonate.
Additional information:
Calcium carbonate is an inorganic compound and is available in a variety of forms such as chalk, marble, limestone. It is a non-toxic and odourless, white, water insoluble compound. It is used as an antacid that means which provides relief from the acidity by neutralising the acid in the stomach.
Note: Remember that, the formula given here for calcium carbonate, CaCO3 is the molecular formula of the compound. It is not a structural formula of calcium carbonate. The molecular formula of the compound and the structural formula of the compound denotes the representation of the chemical formula in different manner. The molecular formula of a compound is the representation of that compound using the symbols of the constituent elements and subscript numbers to show the proportion in which constituent elements are combined in that compound. The structural formula of calcium carbonate will provide the information about the bonding between the atoms of the constituent elements in that compound.