Chapter 21, Problem 7TE

Pour vinegar onto beach sand from the Caribbean and the result is a lot of froth and bubbles. Pour vinegar onto beach sand from California, however, and nothing happens. Why?

To determine

The reason on pouring vinegar onto sand of Caribbean beach produces froth and bubbles but nothing happens when it is poured onto sand of California beach.

Answer to Problem 7TE

The froth and bubbles are formed after pouring vinegar on sand of Caribbean as it contains calcium carbonate which acts as a base. The sand of California beach contains inert compounds and not a base so, nothing happens after pouring vinegar.

Explanation of Solution

The vinegar is an acidic compound. The beach sand of many tropical climate beaches like the Caribbean is made up of remains of shelled creatures and corals. So, it contains calcium carbonate. The calcium carbonate is a base. So after pouring the vinegar, a neutralization reaction takes place. As a result, carbon dioxide is produced and so froth and bubbles are formed.

The beach sand of California is mainly formed due to erosion of minerals and rocks. So, it mostly contains silicon dioxide. The silicon dioxide is an inert compound. So, no reaction takes place after pouring the vinegar.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the froth and bubbles are formed after pouring vinegar on sand of Caribbean as it contains calcium carbonate which acts as a base. The sand of California beach contains inert compounds and not a base so, nothing happens after pouring vinegar.