Question

Write the equation for the laboratory preparation of the following salt using sulphuric acid: Sodium sulphate from sodium carbonate.

Answer 1

1. When sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) reacts with sulphuric acid, H₂SO₄, sodium sulphate (Na₂SO₄) salt, and water (H₂O) are produced with the evolution of carbon dioxide (CO₂) gas.
2. Sodium carbonate is basic in nature and sulphuric acid is an acid, thus it is a neutralization reaction.
3. Chemical equation :

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