Why is calcium carbonate relatively insoluble in water?

1 Answer
anor277
Dec 7, 2015

Simply because the electrostatic bonds between the carbonate anion and the calcium ion are too strong to be overcome by solvation by water molecules.

Explanation:

In fact most carbonates are insoluble in water (the exceptions are?). Carbonate is a doubly charged negative ion that should form strong electrostatic bonds with metal ions - the doubly charged calcium ion, #Ca^(2+)#, should form strong ionic bonds, and indeed it does.

As physical scientists, however, we seek actual data, and I confess that I cannot find an appropriate table. I did find #K_(sp) = 3.3 xx 10^-9#, which corresponds to approx. 10 mg per litre at #25# #""^@C#.

Should the #pH# of the solution be increased, would you expect the solubility of calcium carbonate to go up or down? Will the carbonate ion remain as carbonate at lower #pH#?

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