Chemical Reaction
The overall reaction is:
CO2 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O + heat (in the presence of water)
The reaction can be considered as a strong base catalysed, water facilitated reaction.
Mechanism:
1) CO2 + H2O → CO2 (aq) (CO2 dissolves in water - slow and rate determining)
2) CO2 (aq) + NaOH → NaHCO3 (bicarbonate formation at high pH)
3) NaHCO3 + Ca(OH)2 → CaCO3 + H2O + NaOH (NaOH recycled to step 2) - hence a catalyst)
Each mole of CO2 (44g) reacted produces one mole of water (18g)
Read more about this topic: Soda Lime
Famous quotes containing the words chemical and/or reaction:
“Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into war, use chemical sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves, engage in child labor, exchange information ceaselessly. They do everything but watch television.”
—Lewis Thomas (b. 1913)
“An actor must communicate his author’s given message—comedy, tragedy, serio- comedy; then comes his unique moment, as he is confronted by the looked-for, yet at times unexpected, reaction of the audience. This split second is his; he is in command of his medium; the effect vanishes into thin air; but that moment has a power all its own and, like power in any form, is stimulating and alluring.”
—Eleanor Robson Belmont (1878–1979)