How to Prepare Carbon Dioxide Gas

A physical representation of a molecular structure
This is the space-filling molecular structure for carbon dioxide.

INDIGO MOLECULAR IMAGES LTD/Getty Images

By
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D.
Chemistry Expert
  • Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
  • B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
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Updated on September 16, 2019

These are instructions for preparing carbon dioxide gas (CO2) from calcium carbonate and hydrochloric acid.

Carbon Dioxide Reactants

Only two materials are needed to make carbon dioxide:

  • calcium carbonate (marble chips)
  • 5M hydrochloric acid

Carbon Dioxide Gas Preparation

  1. Add 5M hydrochloric acid to 5g-10g marble chips. Carbon dioxide gas is released by the chemical reaction.
  2. Collect the carbon dioxide from the upward displacement of air in a hood. Carbon dioxide is about 60% denser than air, so it will fill the reaction container.

Chemical Reaction

2HCl + CaCO3 → CO2 + CaCl2 + H2O

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Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How to Prepare Carbon Dioxide Gas." ThoughtCo, Aug. 27, 2020, thoughtco.com/carbon-dioxide-prepcarbon-gas-607544. Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2020, August 27). How to Prepare Carbon Dioxide Gas. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/carbon-dioxide-prepcarbon-gas-607544 Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "How to Prepare Carbon Dioxide Gas." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/carbon-dioxide-prepcarbon-gas-607544 (accessed March 28, 2023).
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