Question

Sulphuric acid is a dibasic acid. Write 2 reactions to justify this statement

Answer 1

Dear Student,

Sulphuric Acid, H2SO4, is a dibasic acid, because it contains two hydrogen atoms which ionise in aqueous solution to become Hydrogen Ions, H(+).

H2SO4 ↔ H+ + HSO4-

HSO4- ↔ H+ + SO4 2-

The reaction for the overall dissociation can be represented as

H2SO4 ↔ 2H+ + SO4 2-

H2SO4 reacts with Na2CO3 to form sodium sulphate, water with the emission of CO2 gas. The two acidic hydrogen ions are replaced by two sodium ions. Similar reaction occurs with potassium carbonate.

Na2CO3 + H2SO4 --------> Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2

Sodium sulphuric Sodium sulphate water carbondioxide

carbonate acid

K2CO3 + H2SO4 --------> K2SO4 + H2O + CO2

Potassium sulphuric Potassium water carbondioxide

carbonate acid sulphate

Reagrds