15 Facts on HF + Ag2CO3: What, How to Balance & FAQs

Ag2CO3 is a dry, greenish, light sensitive powder and metallic carbonate salt. HF is an ionic, polar weak acid with a dipole moment of 1.86 D. Let us see how Ag2CO3 reacts with HF.

Ag2CO3 is a sparingly soluble salt that comprises the transition d element (Ag). Due to its strong basicity, Ag2CO3 is used in organic transformation. It degrades by acid with the release of CO2. HF is bad electric conductor due to less ionization. It can melt glass and plastics and be used in semiconductor formation.

In this article, we will discuss important facts about HF + Ag2CO3 chemical reactions such as reaction enthalpy, the heat required, the product formed, the type of reaction, the type of intermolecular forces between their compounds, etc.

What is the product of HF and Ag2CO3?

Silver fluoride (AgF) and carbonic acid (H2CO3) are produced when silver carbonate (Ag2CO3) reacts with hydrofluoric acid (HF) in its aqueous state. Unstable carbonic acid further breaks down into carbon dioxide (CO2) and a water molecule (H2O).

Ag2CO3 + 2HF → 2AgF + CO2 + H2O

What type of reaction is HF + Ag2CO3?

HF + Ag2CO3 is a double displacement, endothermic, and irreversible reaction.

How to balance HF + Ag2CO3?

The net unbalanced molecular equation for HF + Ag2CO3 is

HF + Ag2CO3 → AgF + CO2 + H2O

To get a balanced equation we should follow the steps given below:

  • The reactant and product side of the chemical reaction should be equal in the context of the number of atoms.
  • Here, the number of hydrogen atoms is 1 on the reactant side and 2 on the product side. So we multiply HF with a coefficient of 2 on the reactant so that the number of hydrogen atoms on both sides becomes 2.
  • 2HF + Ag2CO3 → AgF + CO2 + H2O
  • Similarly, the number of silver atoms is 2 on the reactant side while it is 1 on the product side. So we multiply  AgF with a coefficient of 2 on the product side so that the number of the silver atoms becomes the same i.e., 2.
  • HF + Ag2CO3 → 2AgF + CO2 + H2O
  • Hence, the net balanced chemical equation is,
  • 2HF + Ag2CO3 → 2AgF + CO2 + H2O

HF + Ag2CO3 titration

The titration of HF + Ag2CO3 is not carried out because Ag2CO3 is less soluble in an aqueous solution. Silver chromate (Ag2CrO4) or silver nitrate (AgNO3) are generally used in quantitative analysis of F ion in argentometric titration.

HF + Ag2CO3 Net Ionic Equation

The net ionic equation of HF + Ag2CO3 is as follows:

2H+(aq) + Ag2CO3 (s) = H2O (l) + 2Ag+ (aq) + CO2 (g)

To get the net ionic equation for HF + Ag2CO3, we should follow the steps given below:

  • Write the general balanced chemical equation.
  • 2HF + Ag2CO3 = H2O + 2AgF + CO2
  • Now the solubility equation for HF + Ag2CO3 is written by labeling, the state or phase (s, l, g or aq) of each substance in the balanced molecular equation of HF + Ag2CO3.
  • 2HF (aq) + Ag2CO3 (s) = H2O(l) + 2AgF(aq) + CO2 (g)
  • Break all aquatic soluble ionic substances into their corresponding ions to get the complete ionic equation.
  • 2H+(aq) +2F(aq) + Ag2CO3 (s) = H2O (l) + 2Ag+ (aq) + 2F(aq) + CO2 (g)
  • To get the net ionic equation, remove spectator ions (F) from the reactant and product side of the complete ionic equation.
  • So, the net ionic equation for HF + Ag2CO3 is:
  • 2H+(aq) + Ag2CO3 (s) = H2O (l) + 2Ag+ (aq) + CO2 (g)

HF + Ag2CO3 Conjugate Pairs

The conjugate pairs (compounds differ by one proton in their respective pair) in HF+Ag2CO3 are:

  • The conjugate base of HF acid is Cl
  • The conjugate base of H2O is OH
  • The conjugate base of H2CO3 acid is CO32-
  • Ag2CO3 and AgF do not have their conjugate pairs because both compounds do not contain hydrogen atom that can remove as proton ion.

HF and Ag2CO3 Intermolecular Forces

The intermolecular forces that work on HF and Ag2CO3 are-

  • The electrostatic force of attraction works between the silver and carbonate ions in the lattice structure of silver carbonate as Ag2COis an ionic metal carbonate.
  • Dipole-dipole force, London dispersion force, and hydrogen bonding are present as intermolecular forces in HF molecules.
  • The electrostatic force of attraction and Coulomb force is present in AgF
  • London dispersion force is the only intermolecular force that finds in CO2 molecules because of its extremely low boiling point (-78.46 °C).
  • Hydrogen bonds, dipole-induced dipole forces, and London dispersion forces exist in water due to their strong polar nature.

HCl + Ag2CO3 Reaction Enthalpy

The net enthalpy changes of the reaction HF + Ag2CO3 is + 40.06 kJ/mol. The value is gained from the following mathematical calculation.

Compound  Standard Formation Enthalpy (ΔfH°(Kj/mol))
HF -272.72
Ag2CO3 −505.8
AgF -206
H2O -285.83
CO2 -393.5
Standard Formation Enthalpy of Compounds
  • ΔH°f = ΣΔH°f (products) – ΣΔH°f (reactants) (kJ/mol)
  • ΔHf = [ 2*( 206) + 285.8 + 393.52*( 272.72) + 505.8) ] kJ/mol
  • ΔHf = 40.06 kJ/mol

Is HF + Ag2CO3 a buffer solution?

HF+ Ag2CO3 mixture is not a buffer solution because the aqueous solution of HF and Ag2CO3 does not form the corresponding acid and base, a salt is formed instead.

Is HF + Ag2CO3 a complete reaction?

HCl + Ag2CO3 is a complete reaction because in this reaction HCl and Ag2CO3 are completely consumed and converted into the final product (AgF) successfully.

Is HF + Ag2CO3 an exothermic or endothermic reaction?

HF+Ag2CO3 reaction is an endothermic reaction because the net change of enthalpy is positive (40.04 kJ/mol) where the +ve sign interprets the following facts about the reaction:

  • The +ve sign attributes that HF and Ag2CO3 absorb 40.04 kJ/mol energy from the surrounding environment during the reaction and become thermodynamically stable.
  • Positive enthalpy also explains the products obtained in the reaction exhibit higher energy than the reactants so they are thermodynamically less stable.

Is HF + Ag2CO3 a redox reaction?

The reaction of HF + Ag2CO3 is not a redox reaction because electron acceptance and donation are not carried out during the whole reaction and thus the oxidation state of each element remains the same.

Is HF + Ag2CO3 a precipitation reaction?

HF+ Ag2CO3 is not a precipitation reaction because the completion of the reaction provides the AgF as the main product that is dissolved in reaction media. 

Is HF + Ag2CO3 reversible or irreversible reaction?

HF+ Ag2CO3 is an irreversible reaction because it is not possible to convert back the products into the reactants at the same reaction conditions.

Is HF + Ag2CO3 displacement reaction?

HF + Ag2CO3 is a double displacement reaction as in this reaction Ag+ and F switch their positions with each other. F displaces CO32- from Ag2CO3 and Ag+ displaces H+ from HF.

Conclusion

This article concluded that Ag2CO3 is an inorganic compound that reacts with HF through a double displacement reaction and provides AgF and emits CO2. AgF is dissolved in a reaction mixture that can be filtered by centrifugation in an aqueous medium. Heat is absorbed from surroundings during the reaction.