How can I cheaply remove calcium carbonate residue?

[Justonium]

After doing some experiments using limewater for CO2 testing, my glassware was left with a layer of whitish CaCO3 caked firmly on the inside. I know that hydrochloric acid removes it fine, but I don't want to waste any, as I am running low. Anybody know some other means of removal? Mechanical methods don't work very well as far as I've tried.

[insane_alien]

vinegar should work fine.

[Xittenn]

On a similar but different note how would one remove stains of say NLG consistency lithium based greases from clothing?

[John Cuthber]

Dry cleaning is probably the best bet. Overalls are also a good bet, but you might need a time machines as well.

[Justonium]

Wow, the vinegar actually worked! You wouldn't think vinegar could dissolve limestone, but I guess it does, just slowly.

[alex folen]

Edta. (for those of you why do not know - ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. you can now get it from the supermarket, or Wall Mart perhaps. A fellow chemist came up with th e patent and made a fortune. Go figure.

[insane_alien]

Wow, the vinegar actually worked! You wouldn't think vinegar could dissolve limestone, but I guess it does, just slowly.

 

acids attack bases. it forms calcium acetate and carbon dioxide. the former is quite interesting as it easily forms super saturated solutions, plenty of videos on youtube featuring it.

 

and there doesn't have to be anything slow about it. the only reason household vinegar is so slow is that it is very diluted, concentrated acetic acid would work quite fast.

[John Cuthber]

I thought that was sodium acetate and the YT videos about Ca acetate would be gelling alcohol.

 

Anyway, given time, even carbonic acid will dissolve limestone. That's the process that makes some caves.

[insane_alien]

ah yes, you're right.