Consider trying to dissolve both calcium chloride in aqueous solution.

a. Predict which salt is more soluble and write its formula.
b. Explain your prediction in part a above by qualitatively comparing the bonding and solvation energies for the two salts.

To predict which salt, calcium chloride or calcium carbonate, is more soluble in aqueous solution, we need to consider the bonding and solvation energies for the two salts.

a. Calcium chloride's formula is CaCl2, while calcium carbonate's formula is CaCO3.

b. To compare the bonding and solvation energies for the two salts, we can consider the nature of the bonds in each compound.

Calcium chloride (CaCl2) consists of ionic bonds between calcium ions (Ca2+) and chloride ions (Cl-). Ionic compounds tend to be highly soluble in water due to the strong attractions between the oppositely charged ions and the ability of water molecules to solvate or surround the ions.

Calcium carbonate (CaCO3), on the other hand, contains both ionic and covalent bonds. The calcium carbonate compound consists of a calcium ion (Ca2+) bonded to a carbonate ion (CO32-), which contains covalent bonds. While ionic compounds generally have high solubilities, the presence of covalent bonds can slightly reduce the solubility.

Therefore, based on the nature of the bonding, we can predict that calcium chloride (CaCl2) is more soluble in aqueous solution compared to calcium carbonate (CaCO3).