15 Facts on HCl + Li2CO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Hydrochloric acid (HCl) is an inorganic compound present in liquid state and Lithium carbonate (Li₂CO₃) is a white powder which is a solid . Let us discuss HCl + Li₂CO₃ reactions.  

HCl is a colorless acid, known by another name muriatic acid, and is one of the important acids used by chemists as it is a strong acid. Li2CO3 is used for medicinal purposes and the processing of metal oxides as well because it is a strong base.

In the article, we will talk about the reaction of HCl + Li₂CO₃ with their products, conjugate pairs, type of reaction, etc in a detailed explanation.

What is the product of HCl and Li₂CO₃

The final products are Lithium Chloride and Carbon dioxide gas, Li₂CO₃ is a salt of carbonate and releases CO₂ gas when reacting with acid.

HCl + Li₂CO₃ = LiCl + CO₂+ HOH

What type of reaction is HCl + Li₂CO₃

The reaction, HCl + Li₂CO₃ is a neutralization reaction because the product is, LiCl which is a salt or metal ion salt as a complete chemical compound, and CO₂ gas evaporates in the air after neutralizing all the ions in the reaction.

How to balance HCl + Li₂CO₃

There are following steps to balance a reaction :-

• As the coefficients are 5 label them as A, B, C, D, and E.
• A HCl + B Li₂CO₃ = C LiCl + D CO2 +  E HOH
• Modify the equation with a suitable number as already labeled as the alphabet.
  A = E = H , B = C = Li , C = A = Cl , D = B = C , E = B = O
• Multiply the atoms of the equation A = E = 2, B = C = 2 , C = A = 1 , D = B = 1 , E = B = 1
• Reduce the result of the lowest integer number so, the balanced equation is-

2HCl +  Li₂CO₃ = 2 LiCl +  CO₂ +   HOH

HCl + Li₂CO₃ titration

Apparatus required –

• Burette
• Pipette
• Conical flask
• Burette stand
• Funnel
• Measuring flask
• Solution oh HCl and Li₂CO3
• Watch glass

Indicator used-

Methyl orange will be used as an indicator.

Procedure-

• Filling the burette with the standard solution of Li₂CO₃ till the last point with the help of a funnel.

• Sucking 10 ml of HCl with the help of a pipette out in a conical flask and placing it under a burette allow Li₂CO₃ into the flask dropwise and methyl blue is added until the color changes to light pink.

• Follow the process until 2 congruent readings and apply the formula to calculate the concentration of the unknown solution.

HCl + Li₂CO₃ net ionic equation

• First, write the complete reaction with their respective states

HCl(l) + Li₂CO₃(s) = 2 LiCl(s) +  CO₂(g) +   HOH(l)

• Now, split the atoms into cations and anions

H⁺ + Cl^– + Li⁺ + CO^3- = Li⁺ + Cl^– + CO₂ + HOH

• The remaining HOH can dissociate into H⁺ and OH^–

So, the final net ionic equation is-

H⁺ + Cl^– + Li⁺ + CO^-3 = Li⁺ + Cl^– + CO₂ + H⁺ + OH^–

HCl + Li₂CO₃ conjugate pairs

HCl + Li₂CO₃ do not form any conjugate pairs. Being a strong acid HCl dissociates completely and its conjugate base will be Cl^– whereas Li₂CO₃ is a carbonate salt, and librates CO₂ gas.

HCl and Li₂CO₃ intermolecular forces

• Being a strong acid HCl atom combines with an ionic bond and has intermolecular forces and dipole-dipole interactions with the London dispersion force.

• Li₂CO₃ is a salt of carbonate having a weak van der Waal of attraction within the atoms.

HCl + Li₂CO₃ reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy is zero as, the enthalpy of the formation of HCl is – 58 KJ/mol and Li₂CO₃ is – 563.15 KJ/mol but at last all the ions get neutralize to form a salt as a product so the final reaction enthalpy becomes zero.

Is HCl +Li₂CO₃ a buffer solution

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ not a buffer solution The pH of a buffer solution must be more than 7 but, in the reaction of HCl + Li₂CO₃ pH slightly shifts to an acidic medium as the concentration of HCl increases with time.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ a complete reaction

 HCl + Li₂CO₃ is a complete reaction.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ an exothermic or endothermic reaction

HCl + Li₂CO₃ is an exothermic reaction. In the reaction, the solution heats up as HCl is added to Li₂CO₃ and releasing CO₂ gas, and releasing a good amount of energy because of the dissociation of bonds.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ a redox reaction

HCl +Li₂CO₃ is not a redox reaction. The dissociation of bonds in HCl and Li₂CO₃ takes place in the aqueous medium and no exchange or transfer of electrons or protons is there and it is the neutralizing of the charges of atoms.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ a precipitation reaction

HCl + Li₂CO₃ is not a precipitation reaction. The product is LiCl which is highly soluble in water and CO2 gas evolved in the reaction and evaporated hence, no precipitation of any salt or chemical compounds takes place.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ reversible or irreversible reaction

HCl + Li₂CO₃ is an irreversible reaction. The final product of the reaction is the LiCl salt which is a complete compound and highly soluble in water therefore, cannot be reversed as a reactant or in the previous form.

Is HCl + Li₂CO₃ displacement reaction

HCl + Li₂CO₃ is not a displacement reaction. The exchange of ions of HCl and Li₂CO₃ forms a salt of LiCl salt without displacing any other chemical compound or atoms at the end of the reaction.

Conclusion

The chemical compound HCl is majorly used for the analysis of many salts with acid and bases whereas, Li₂CO₃ is used in lithium-ion batteries and contributes a small composition to glass making use for ovenware.

Soumya Chourasiya

Hi….I am Soumya Chourasia, completed my Master’s in Chemistry. I am working as a Subject Matter Expert in Chemistry. Before this, I used to teach chemistry for competitive examinations and school as well.
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