Fascinating Facts

Pearls dissolve in vinegar!!!!

• Pearls are expensive, it sounds somewhat strange that they dissolve in vinegar a house hold chemical.
• Chemically there is nothing strange about it. Pearls are basically Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) like marble and lime stone.
• We know that carbonates and bicarbonates react with acids liberating CO₂forming the corresponding salts.
• Vinegar is acetic acid (10%), so pearls will naturally dissolve in vinegar.
• The following list gives the equation of the reaction of any CaCO₃ containing substance found in nature with most acids.

• Substances which are mainly made up of Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) are
• Marble, lime stone, agricultural lime, pearls, shells of marine organisms, snails, oysters, eggs even bones .
• It is commonly used medicinally as a calcium supplement or as an antacid, but excessive consumption can be hazardous.  
• As building material: The taj mahal, the outer covering of the great pyramids is made of marble.