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Which statements are correct? 1 Magnesium carbonate decomposes at a lower temperature than calcium carbonate - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 36 - 2021 - Paper 1
Question 36
Which statements are correct? 1 Magnesium carbonate decomposes at a lower temperature than calcium carbonate. 2 Calcium hydroxide is more soluble in water than mag... show full transcript
Worked Solution & Example Answer:Which statements are correct? 1 Magnesium carbonate decomposes at a lower temperature than calcium carbonate - CIE - A-Level Chemistry - Question 36 - 2021 - Paper 1
Step 1
1 Magnesium carbonate decomposes at a lower temperature than calcium carbonate.
Answer
This statement is correct. Magnesium carbonate (MgCO₃) decomposes at approximately 350°C to produce magnesium oxide (MgO) and carbon dioxide (CO₂), whereas calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) requires a higher temperature (around 825°C) for decomposition.
Step 2
2 Calcium hydroxide is more soluble in water than magnesium hydroxide.
Answer
This statement is correct. Calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)₂), also known as slaked lime, is more soluble in water compared to magnesium hydroxide (Mg(OH)₂), which has much lower solubility and is generally considered insoluble.
Step 3
3 Calcium is a stronger reducing agent than magnesium.
Answer
This statement is correct. Calcium (Ca) is indeed a stronger reducing agent than magnesium (Mg). This is due to calcium having a higher tendency to lose electrons, thereby making it a more potent reducing agent in redox reactions.