Question

Balance each one of the following chemical equations:

${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4+{\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$

Answer 1

Step 1: Balanced chemical equation

Chemical equations in which the number of atoms is equal on both sides are called balanced chemical equations. Balanced chemical equations give a relative amount of reactants and products in a reaction. A reaction is balanced by the trial and error method in which stoichiometric coefficients are added to reactant and products such that the number of atoms becomes equal on both sides.

Step 2: Reaction between sodium carbonate and sulphuric acid

Aqueous solutions of sodium carbonate $\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\right)$ and sulphuric acid $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$ react to form sodium sulphate $\left({\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\right)$, carbon dioxide gas $\left({\mathrm{CO}}_2\right)$ and water $\left({\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\right)$. The chemical equation can be given as follows:

${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3+{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4+{\mathrm{CO}}_2+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}$

The number of atoms of each element on both sides is as follows:

Element	Reactant side	Product side
Sodium (Na)	2	2
Carbon (C)	1	1
Sulphur (S)	1	1
Hydrogen (H)	2	2
Oxygen (O)	7	7

Step 3: Balancing atoms on both sides

The number of atoms of all the elements is the same on both sides. Therefore, the equation is already balanced. The states of the reactants and products are also mentioned in the balanced equation.

Therefore, the balanced equation for the reaction is as follows:

${\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{CO}}_3\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{CO}}_2\left(\mathrm{g}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$