Structural Transition of Calcium Carbonate in Golden Apple Snail Mollusk Shell

Abstract

This research investigated structural transitions of calcium carbonate in the mollusk of
golden apple snails after annealing for two hours at various temperatures ranging from 350 to 900
??C by utilizing techniques of powder x-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
The measurements detected aragonite form of calcium carbonate in unheated golden apple snail
mollusk. Upon annealing at 350 ??C, the transformation of calcium carbonate from the aragonite to
the calcite form was found to take place. Increasing the annealing temperature to 450 ??C resulted in the completion of the transition process. In addition, the calcite was found to transform to calcium
oxide when the annealing temperature was further increased to 900??C.

Keywords: Calcium Carbonate, Aragonite, Calcite, Phase transition