| Physical Properties | Pink rhombohedral crystals; refractive index 1.855; density 4.13 g/cm3; decomposes on heating; insoluble in water and ethanol; soluble in acids.
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| Uses | The compound occurs in nature as the mineral cobalt spar or sphaerocobaltite. It is used in ceramics; in cobalt pigments; as a catalyst; as a temperature indicator; and in the preparation of other cobalt(II) salts. It also is added to soil to provide nutritional supplement in forage for cattle.
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| Preparation | Cobalt carbonate is prepared by heating cobaltous sulfate, cobaltous chloride or any Co2+ salt with sodium bicarbonate in solution:
CoSO4 + NaHCO3→ CoCO3 + NaHSO4
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| Reactions | Cobalt carbonate dissolves in concentrated HCl or HNO3 when heated, evolving CO2:
CoCO3 + HCl→CoCl2 + CO2 + H2O
It is oxidized by air or weak oxidizing agents, forming cobalt(III) carbonate, Co2(CO3)3. It decomposes on heating, forming the oxides of cobalt with the evolution of CO2.
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| Toxicity | The compound is moderately toxic by ingestion. (Lewis (Sr.), R. J. 1996. Sax’s Dangerous Properties of Industrial Materials, 9th ed. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.)
LD50 oral (rat): 640 mg/kg
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| Chemical Properties | Cobalt carbonate is Violet Powder
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| Uses | Cobalt(II) carbonate is precursor to cobalt carbonyl, cobalt salts and blue pottery glazes such as delftware. It is used as an essential element in dietary supplements and also used in the manufacture of paints and pigments. |
| Preparation | Cobalt(II) carbonate is prepared by heating cobaltous sulfate, cobaltous chloride or any Co2+ salt with sodium bicarbonate in solution:
CoSO4 + NaHCO3 → CoCO3 + NaHSO4
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| Application | Cobalt(II) Carbonate is an inorganic compound that is an intermediate in the hydrometallurgical purification of cobalt from its ore. It is also a paramagnetic solid, an inorganic pigment, and a precursor to catalysts. |
| Flammability and Explosibility | Notclassified |
