Question

Complete the following reaction:

${\text{Na}}_2{\text{CO}}_3\text{(s)}+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\text{(aq)}\to ?$

• A. ${\text{Na}}_2{\text{CO}}_3+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}+{\text{CO}}_2$
• B. ${\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}$
• C. ${\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4+{\text{CO}}_2$
• D. ${\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}+{\text{CO}}_2$

Answer 1

The correct option is D ${\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4+{\text{H}}_2\text{O}+{\text{CO}}_2$

Sodium carbonate (${\text{Na}}_2{\text{CO}}_3$) reacts with sulphuric acid (${\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4$) to form carbonic acid (${\text{H}}_2{\text{CO}}_3$) and sodium sulphate (${\text{NaSO}}_4$). The reaction involved is:

${\text{Na}}_2{\text{CO}}_3\text{(s)}+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\text{(aq)}\to {\text{H}}_2{\text{CO}}_3\text{(aq)}+{\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\text{(aq)}$

Carbonic acid (${\text{H}}_2{\text{CO}}_3$) rapidly decomposes to form carbon dioxide (${\text{CO}}_2$) and water (${\text{H}}_2\text{O}$). The reaction involved is:

${\text{H}}_2{\text{CO}}_3\text{(aq)}\to {\text{CO}}_2\text{(g)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O(l)}$

Therefore, the overall reaction is depicted as follows:
${\text{Na}}_2{\text{CO}}_3\text{(s)}+{\text{H}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\text{(aq)}\to {\text{Na}}_2{\text{SO}}_4\text{(aq)}+{\text{H}}_2\text{O(l)}+{\text{CO}}_2\text{(g)}$