Question

Complete the following equations:

${\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4+2\mathrm{NaOH}\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4+\mathrm{\_\_\_\_\_\_}$

Answer 1

• When Sodium hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{NaOH}\right)$ reacts with Zinc sulfate $\left({\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\right)$, a white-colored precipitate of zinc hydroxide $\left(\mathrm{Zn}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2\right)$ is formed along with sodium sulfate. The skeleton reaction is as follows

${\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{Zn}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2\downarrow$

• There are $2$ sodium $\left(\mathrm{Na}\right)$ atoms on the product side, while on the reactant side, there is $1$only. To balance the sodium atom, a coefficient of $2$ must be added in front of $\mathrm{NaOH}$. Through this, all the atoms in the reaction become balanced.
• The balanced reaction is given as follows:

${\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+2\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{Zn}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2\downarrow$

Therefore, the complete equation is ${\mathrm{ZnSO}}_4+2\mathrm{NaOH}\to {\mathrm{Na}}_2{\mathrm{SO}}_4+\underline{\mathrm{Zn}{\left(\mathrm{OH}\right)}_2}$.