Stalactites in the House
By: Rafay Hassan
What is a stalactite?
Balanced Equation
CaCO3 (s) + H2O (l) + CO2 (aq) → Ca(HCO3)2 (aq)
Calcium Carbonate + Water + Carbon Dioxide → Calcium Bicarbonate
(Photo Retrieved from Google Images)
Reactants and Products
Reactants
It is formed by three main elements: carbon, oxygen and calcium. It is a common substance found in rocks in all parts of the world.
Hydrogen Oxide
Water is a transparent fluid which forms the world's streams, lakes, oceans and rain, and is the major constituent of the fluids of living things. As a chemical compound, a water molecule contains one oxygen and two hydrogen atoms that are connected by covalent bonds.
Carbon Dioxide
is a colorless, odorless gas vital to plant life on earth. This naturally occurring chemical compound is composed of two oxygen atoms each covalently double bonded to a single carbon atom.
Product
Calcium Bicarbonate
The term does not refer to a known solid compound; it exists only in aqueous solution containing the calcium (Ca2+), bicarbonate (HCO3−), and carbonate(CO32−) ions, together with dissolved carbon dioxide (CO2).
Stalactite Production
The most common stalactites are speleothems, which occur in limestone caves. They form through deposition of calcium carbonate and other minerals, which is precipitated from mineralized water solutions. Limestone is the chief form of calcium carbonate rock which isdissolved by water that contains carbon dioxide, forming a calcium bicarbonate solution in underground caverns.
Reactants
CaCO3
H2O
CO2
CREATE!
Type of Reaction
Significance
A stalactite and stalagmite also serves as a tool for scientists wanting to gain insight into ancient temperature and rainfall fluctuations. Just as trees record their surroundings, the speleothems tell a story depending on their shapes, sizes, and more. The shapes and sizes indicate deposit rates, which can be matched up to periods of time.
References
Stalactites and Stalagmites, 2010, Retrieved March 29, 2015 from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/562593/stalactite-and-stalagmite
Stalactite Formation, 2014, Retrieved March 23, 2015 from http://userpages.umbc.edu/~brenna2/Stalactite.html
Chemistry for teens, 2014, Retrieved March 23, 2015 from http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/s/stalactite.htm