Assertion (A): Lime water alone cannot distinguish a carbonate from a sulphite when the salt is treated with dilute acid. Reason (R): Both $CO X_{2}$ and $SO X_{2}$ turn lime water milky, forming insoluble $CaCO X_{3}$ and $CaSO X_{3}$ respectively.

ABoth A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
BBoth A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
CA is true but R is false
DA is false but R is true

Answer: A

Both statements are true. The milkiness is due to a white calcium salt in each case, so the two gases cannot be told apart this way; a further test such as acidified dichromate (green with

SO X_{2}

) is needed. R explains A.

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Assertion (A): Lime water alone cannot distinguish a carbonate from a sulphite when the salt is treated with dilute acid. Reason (R): Both COX2​ and SOX2​ turn lime water milky, forming insoluble CaCOX3​ and CaSOX3​ respectively.

Answer: A

More questions on Precipitation reactions and confirmatory tests

Assertion (A): Lime water alone cannot distinguish a carbonate from a sulphite when the salt is treated with dilute acid. Reason (R): Both $CO X_{2}$ and $SO X_{2}$ turn lime water milky, forming insoluble $CaCO X_{3}$ and $CaSO X_{3}$ respectively.