JAMB - Biology (2005 - No. 40)
which of the following is used to test for the presence of lime in a soil sample?
H2SO4(aq)
NaOH(aq)
HCl(aq)
HNO3(aq)
Explanation
To test for lime (calcium carbonate) in soil, you can use hydrochloric acid (HCl), which reacts with the lime to produce carbon dioxide gas, indicated by fizzing or bubbling.
The chemical reaction between lime (calcium carbonate, CaCO\(_3\)) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is:
CaCO\(_3\) + 2HCl → CaCl\(_2\) + CO\(_2\) + H\(_2\)O.
In this reaction, calcium chloride (CaCl\(_2\)), carbon dioxide (CO\(_2\)), and water (H\(_2\)O) are produced.
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