ATAR Notes: Forum

VCE Stuff => VCE Science => VCE Mathematics/Science/Technology => VCE Subjects + Help => VCE Chemistry => Topic started by: FlorianK on July 16, 2012, 05:03:23 pm

Title: Florian's 3/4 Chem Questions
Post by: FlorianK on July 16, 2012, 05:03:23 pm

I'm struggling with this question

Use equilibrium equations to explain why chickens lay thinner eggshells in summer.

Title: Re: Florian's 3/4 Chem Questions
Post by: charmanderp on July 16, 2012, 05:16:37 pm

CaCO3(s) + CH3COO-(aq) + H+(aq) -> Ca++(aq) + CH3COO-(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

I'm not sure about the biology here but here's an equation I've found for eggshells or the laying of eggshells or whatever. Going out on a limb here I'm going to say that during summer chickens (or indeed any animals) exhale more (producing more carbon dioxide) and lose more water. Hence according to Le Chatellier's principle in order to restore that the reaction has to move further forward meaning less calcium carbonate which is the main component of egg shells and hence weaker/thinner shells.

From Wikipedia: "The chicken eggshell is 95-97% calcium carbonate crystals..."

Apologies if this is completely wrong.

Title: Re: Florian's 3/4 Chem Questions
Post by: Somye on July 16, 2012, 06:52:39 pm

Yep, what charmanderp said is right, for the textbook explanation (Heinemann chem 2) check out page 273

Title: Re: Florian's 3/4 Chem Questions
Post by: charmanderp on July 16, 2012, 06:55:21 pm

Quote from: Somye on July 16, 2012, 06:52:39 pm

Yep, what charmanderp said is right, for the textbook explanation (Heinemann chem 2) check out page 273

:')