Write a balanced equation for the following reaction. Use whole number coefficients and subscripts appropriately.
When hydrochloric acid is mixed with sodium hydrogen carbonate, the mixture fizzes. The fizzing occurs because the reaction produces a gas, namely carbon dioxide. The other products are a solution of sodium chloride and liquid water.
HCl + NaHCO3 = NaCl + H2O + CO2
I would like to clarify Steve's answer a little. Since the question is so detailed about the phases I suspect the author of the question wants you to include the phases like this.
HCl(aq) + NaHCO3(s) --> H2O(l) + NaCl(aq) + CO2(g)
To write a balanced equation for the reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3), we need to identify the reactants and products and ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
The reactants are hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3). The products are carbon dioxide (CO2), sodium chloride (NaCl), and water (H2O).
The balanced equation for this reaction is as follows:
2 HCl(aq) + NaHCO3(aq) → CO2(g) + NaCl(aq) + H2O(l)
In this equation, the coefficients in front of each compound indicate the number of molecules or moles of that substance involved in the reaction. The subscripts indicate the number of atoms in each element within a compound.
To balance this equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides. In this balanced equation, we have:
2 hydrogen (H) atoms on the left and 2 on the right,
2 chlorine (Cl) atoms on the left and 1 on the right,
1 sodium (Na) atom on the left and 1 on the right,
1 carbon (C) atom on the left and 1 on the right,
3 oxygen (O) atoms on the left and 3 on the right.
By balancing the equation, we can accurately represent the reactants and products in the proper stoichiometric ratios.