Chapter 13, Problem 89AE

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The mollusk species create a hard calcium carbonate shell by utilizing the ${\text{Ca}}^{\text{2+}}$ in their food and the aqueous environment.  One of the complex equilibrium reactions that occur in this process is given.  If $0.16\text{mole}$ of ${\text{HCO}}_3^{-}$ is placed into $1.00\text{L}$ of solution, the equilibrium concentration of ${\text{CO}}_3^{2-}$ is to be calculated.

Concept introduction:

The state when the reactants involved in a chemical reaction and the products formed in the reaction exist in concentrations having no further tendency to change is known as an equilibrium state of the reaction.

When the equilibrium constant is expressed in terms of concentration, it is represented as $K$.