Question

Write the balanced chemical equations for the following reactions and identify the type of reaction in each case.

(b) Sodium hydroxide solution is treated with acetic acid to form sodium acetate and water.

Answer 1

Balanced chemical equation:

• A chemical equation is a symbolic statement of any chemical reaction where the reactants and products are replaced by their chemical formulae and symbols.
• A balanced equation involves an equal number of atoms for each element on the reactant and product side.

Word equation to symbolic equation

• The skeletal chemical equation is as follows:-
  ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$

Balancing the Chemical Equation:

• We will tabulate the number of atoms of each element on the reactant as well as on the product side.

Element	Reactant side	Product Side
Na	1	1
C	2	2
O	3	3
H	2	2

• The chemical equation is already balanced.
• In this reaction, acetate ion $\left({\mathrm{CH}}_3{\mathrm{COO}}^{-}\right)$ replaces Hydroxide ion$\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\right)$ from $\mathrm{NaOH}$ to form sodium acetate whereas Sodium ion $\left({\mathrm{Na}}^{+}\right)$ combines with $\left({\mathrm{OH}}^{-}\right)$ to form water, hence this reaction is called double displacement reaction.
  

Hence, the final balanced chemical equation is ${\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+\mathrm{NaOH}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)\to {\mathrm{CH}}_3\mathrm{COONa}\left(\mathrm{aq}\right)+{\mathrm{H}}_2\mathrm{O}\left(\mathrm{l}\right)$. This reaction is a double displacement reaction.