Your goal is to identify samples according to their reactivity with acid. Minerals that react are called chemical rocks, and minerals that don’t are called clastic rocks. Some chemical rocks contain carbonate minerals, like limestone, dolomite, and marble which react with the acid.
Please login or register to read the rest of this content.


Have a question ?

Tell us what you're thinking...

Comments

8 Responses to “Acid Test”

  1. Sometimes rocks, like pumice, will have a coating on them that contains carbonate – you can tell because if you wash the rock, wait for it to dry and try it again, then it will no longer bubble.

  2. julie_stuart says:

    Just a note, i feel like that pumice looking rock did bubble a little.

  3. Gina Gazelka says:

    Can you tell me where to find the Mineral Test Data Table that you show in the video. I would like to download and print it for our use. Thanks!

  4. Your rocks may have only a small amount of the carbonate, so you may only get a small reaction. You can try a stronger acid, but white vinegar is still pretty strong as far as being able to get a reaction. (If you want a reaction just for the fun of it, dunk the rock in baking soda and then add the vinegar.)

  5. Leah Thompson says:

    I only got a small reaction from my rocks how do I get a bigger reaction.

  6. Thanks – we’ll get those fixed right away!

  7. Terri Cleary says:

    I’ve noticed that you are re-doing a number of topics. Here are a few typos I found for this section:
    Paragraph 3 after the video
    A lot of rocks contain small amounts of calcite or other carbonate minerals, so all of these make a ?fizz?

    Paragraph 4 after the video
    releasing carbon dioxide gas into the ?air?