The statement that best describes the equation CaCO3 + 2HCl → CaCl2 + CO2 + H2O is:
CaCO3 is a reactant; it is present before the reaction occurs.
In this equation, CaCO3 (calcium carbonate) and HCl (hydrochloric acid) are the reactants, while CaCl2 (calcium chloride), CO2 (carbon dioxide), and H2O (water) are the products formed as a result of the reaction.