HCI +Na2CO3=NaCI + H20 + CO2
balancing ... 2 HCI + Na2CO3 = 2 NaCI + H20 + CO2
The given chemical equation represents a reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCI) and sodium carbonate (Na2CO3). The result of this reaction is the formation of sodium chloride (NaCI), water (H20), and carbon dioxide (CO2).
To understand the reaction, we can break it down step by step:
1. Start with the reactants: HCI and Na2CO3.
2. The hydrochloric acid (HCI) is a strong acid, and the sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) is a salt that contains a metal (sodium) and a carbonate ion (CO3^2-).
The reaction between an acid and a carbonate produces a salt, water, and carbon dioxide gas. Here's what happens:
3. The hydrochloric acid (HCI) donates a hydrogen ion (H+) to the carbonate ion (CO3^2-), causing it to break apart. This forms carbonic acid (H2CO3) as an intermediate compound.
4. Carbonic acid (H2CO3) is unstable and decomposes rapidly into water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) gas.
5. At the same time, the sodium ion (Na+) from the sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) combines with the chloride ion (CI-) from the hydrochloric acid (HCI) to form sodium chloride (NaCI), which is a salt.
Hence, the overall equation for this reaction is:
2HCI + Na2CO3 → 2NaCI + H2O + CO2
This reaction is a common example of an acid-base reaction (HCI is an acid, and Na2CO3 is a base) and a decomposition reaction (carbonic acid decomposes into water and carbon dioxide).