Which reaction product forms when nitric acid reacts with calcium carbonate?

When nitric acid reacts with calcium carbonate, the primary products formed are calcium nitrate, carbon dioxide, and water. This is a classic acid-carbonate reaction, where carbonates react with acids to produce a salt, carbon dioxide gas, and water.

In this case, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) reacts with nitric acid (HNO3), resulting in the formation of calcium nitrate (Ca(NO3)2), which is the salt produced from the reaction of nitric acid with calcium. The carbon dioxide is released as a gas due to the reaction between the carbonate and the acid. Additionally, water is formed during the reaction as a typical byproduct when an acid reacts with a base or carbonate.

This reaction is represented by the following chemical equation:

[ \text{CaCO}_3 + 2\text{HNO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Ca(NO}_3\text{)}_2 + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} ]

Understanding this reaction is vital, as it illustrates the behavior of carbonates in acid solutions and the generation of gases during such reactions, which is a key aspect of chemistry studies at this level.