15 Facts On HCl +K2CO3: What, How To Balance, And FAQ

Hydrochloric acid and Potassium Carbonate both are inorganic compounds. Let us look into the chemical reactions occurred when potassium carbonate is treated with an acid like HCl.

Hydrochloric acid is a colourless liquid commonly known as muriatic acid. The various physical properties like melting point, boiling point, and density depend on the concentration of this acid. Potassium carbonate is a white solid which is commonly known as pearl ash. It is highly soluble in water.

In this section, we will learn many facts about the reaction of HCl+K₂CO₃ such as the type of reaction, how to balance the chemical reaction, conjugate pairs, etc.

What Is The Product Of HCl and K₂CO₃  

An aqueous solution of potassium chloride i.e. KCl with the vigorous release of Carbon dioxide gas i.e CO₂ formed when potassium carbonate is reacted with Hydrochloric acid.

HCl (l) + K₂CO₃ (s)  =  KCl (aq) +CO₂(g)+ H₂O (l)

What Type Of Reaction Is HCl + K₂CO₃

The reaction between HCl and K₂CO₃is a double displacement reaction due to the formation of H₂CO₃ in the 1^st step when HCl reacts with K₂CO₃ followed by a decomposition reaction in which carbonic acid i.e. H₂CO₃ decomposes to the release of CO₂.

How To Balance HCl + K₂CO₃

Follow the given steps to balance a chemical equation.

Step-1: Write The Elemental Equation

The elemental equation of the reaction between HCl and K₂CO₃ is

• HCl (l) + K₂CO₃ (s)  =  KCl(aq) + CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

Step-2: List The Number Of Atoms Present In the Reactant & Product

Symbol Of Atoms Present In LHS	Number Of Atoms In LHS	Symbol of Atoms Present In RHS	Number Of Atoms In RHS
H	1	H	2
Cl	1	Cl	1
K	2	K	1
C	1	C	1
O	3	O	3

Step-3: Compare And Balance The Number Of Atoms In the Reactant & Product

To write a balanced chemical equation we need to multiply 2 with potassium atom in RHS, multiply 2 with Hydrogen atom in LHS, and multiply 2 with Chlorine atom in both LHS and RHS.

Step-4: Write The Balanced Chemical Equation

The number of atoms in reactants and products is balanced now. Incorporate the same in the chemical equation, write the coefficient 2 before HCl in the reactant of the elemental equation and write 2 along with KCl in the product as well. Thus the final balanced equation will be :

• 2HCl (l) + K₂CO₃ (s)  = 2 KCl(aq) + CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

HCl + K₂CO₃ Titration

Apparatus and Chemical Reagent Required

• Burette
• Pipette
• 250 ml beaker
• Measuring flask
• Conical flask
• Funnel
• Filter paper
• Watch glass
• Distilled water
• Hydrochloric acid
• Potassium carbonate

Indicator

Methyl Orange indicator is used to show the endpoint while titrating HCl with K₂CO₃.

Procedure

• Rinse all the apparatus before starting the procedure.
• Measure out and fill the burette with K₂CO₃ of unknown strength.
• With the help of a pipette measure a suitable amount of HCl solution of known strength and put it into a clean conical flask.
• Two drops of methyl orange indicator are to be added to the flask
• Set the burette in a burette stand and add K₂CO₃ solution to the conical flask with constant staring in a dropwise manner until the color of the acidic solution changes to light pink.
• Repeat the same process to find out three concordant readings.
• The readings can be recorded in the following table

Sl no.	Initial Burette Reading	Final Burette Reading	Change In Volume Of K2CO3
1	x cm3	y cm3	(y-x)cm3
2	a cm3	b cm3	(b-a)cm3
3	p cm3	q cm3	(q-p) cm3

• Calculate the average volume i.e V ml of Calcium Hydroxide used during the reaction and use the value to find out the strength of Hydrochloric acid.

• The concentration of K₂CO₃ can be calculated by using volumetric analysis i.e. [K₂CO₃]M₁V₁ = [HCl] M₂V₂. where M is the strength of the solution and V is the volume.

HCl + K₂CO₃ Net Ionic Equation

• First, we need to write the balanced chemical equation i.e.

  2HCl (l) + K₂CO₃ (s)  =  2 KCl(aq) + CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l)

• Then break the balanced equation into ionic form i.e.

  2H⁺(aq)+ 2Cl^– (aq) + K₂CO₃ (s) =  2K⁺aq)+ 2Cl^– (aq) + CO₂ (g) +H₂O (l)

•  In the final step cancel all the spectator ions and the net ionic equation can be written as,

2H⁺(aq)+ K₂CO₃ (s) =  2K⁺(aq)+ CO₂ (g)+ H₂O (l)

HCl + K₂CO₃ Conjugate Pairs

• The conjugate base of the strong acid Hydrochloric acid is Cl^– ion.
• The conjugate acid Potassium carbonate is  KHCO₃.

HCl And K₂CO₃ Intermolecular Forces

The intermolecular force that exists in the HCl molecule is dipole-dipole interaction and Vander Waal’s force of attraction due to its polar nature. The intermolecular force of attraction that exists in other reactant and products when HCl react with K₂CO₃ are summarized below.

Molecule	Intermolecular Force Of Attraction
HCl	Dipole-Dipole Interaction Vander Waal’s Force
K2CO3	Ionic
KCl	Ionic
CO2	Covalent
H2O	H-bonding

HCl And K₂CO₃ Reaction Enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy or heat change between reactants and products when HCl reacts with K₂CO₃ is -33.96kJ/mol.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ A Buffer Solution

HCl and K₂CO₃ is not buffer solution because HCl is a strong acid and K₂CO₃ is a weak base.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ A Complete Reaction

The reaction of HCl and K₂CO₃ is a complete reaction due to the formation of neutral salt KCl with highly stable CO₂ and H₂O.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ An Exothermic & Endothermic Reaction

The reaction between HCl and K₂CO₃ is an exothermic reaction as the enthalpy change during the chemical reaction is negative.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ A Redox Reaction

The reaction of HCl with K₂CO₃ is not a redox reaction because here increase and decrease in oxidation state are not taking place simultaneously.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ A Precipitation Reaction

The reaction of HCl and K₂CO₃ is not a precipitation reaction as the product formed during the chemical reaction i.e. KCl is a readily soluble salt.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ Reversible or Irreversible Reaction

The reaction between HCl and K₂CO₃ is an irreversible reaction because it is a decomposition reaction in which CO₂ and H₂O form. As CO₂ and H₂O both are highly stable, they will not further react as reactants.

Is HCl + K₂CO₃ Displacement Reaction

The reaction that takes place between HCl and K₂CO₃ is not a displacement reaction as here two ionic species interchange during the reaction whereas in a displacement reaction replacement of only one chemical element occurs.

Conclusion

Hydrochloric acid and Calcium Oxide both are widely used as laboratory reagents. The product formed from this reaction i.e. potassium Chloride is used as medicine to treat the low potassium level in the body, also used as fertilizer.