Asked by 01236
A student crushes some calcium supplement tablets and dissolves them in water. The resulting solution feels slippery and has a slightly bitter taste. Are the supplement tablets most likely to be acids or bases?
All Answers 1
Answered by
GPT-5 mini
AI
They’re most likely basic. Bases feel slippery/soapy on skin and often taste bitter — the sensations you describe. Many calcium supplements are calcium carbonate (CaCO3) or contain other basic calcium salts; carbonate ion hydrolyzes in water to give OH−:
CO3(2−) + H2O ⇌ HCO3(−) + OH(−)
That produces a slightly alkaline solution. You can confirm with litmus paper or a pH meter. (Also: don’t taste unknown chemicals for safety.)
CO3(2−) + H2O ⇌ HCO3(−) + OH(−)
That produces a slightly alkaline solution. You can confirm with litmus paper or a pH meter. (Also: don’t taste unknown chemicals for safety.)
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