Once it is balanced, in the following chemical reaction NaHCO3(s) Na2O(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l), what is the coefficient for Na2O (s)?
a. 1
b. 2
c. 3
d. 4
You didn't give the reactants (or if you did there was not enough information to know what you are doing). However, almost any reacting with NaHCO3 is relatively simple. Tell me what your trouble is in balancing this, or any, equation. Atoms on the left equation atoms on the right. And the first rule is that you can NOT change any subscripts, only coefficients.
To determine the coefficient for Na2O (s) in the balanced chemical equation, you need to balance the equation. Balancing a chemical equation involves adjusting the coefficients in front of the reactants and products so that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Let's start by counting the number of atoms for each element on the reactant and product sides of the unbalanced equation:
Reactants: NaHCO3(s) - 1 Na, 1 H, 1 C, 3 O
Products: Na2O(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) - 2 Na, 1 C, 5 O, 1 C, 2 H, 1 O
Now, let's balance the equation step by step:
1. Start by balancing the elements that are present in the fewest number of compounds. In this case, it's C and H.
Reactants: NaHCO3(s) - 1 C, 1 H
Products: Na2O(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) - 1 C, 2 H
2. Next, balance the elements that appear in compounds on both sides of the equation. In this case, it's O.
Reactants: NaHCO3(s) - 3 O
Products: Na2O(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) - 5 O, 1 O
3. Now, balance the sodium (Na) atoms by adjusting the coefficient in front of Na2O.
Reactants: NaHCO3(s) - 1 Na
Products: Na2O(g) + CO2(g) + H2O(l) - 2 Na
Therefore, the coefficient for Na2O (s) in the balanced chemical equation is 2.
So, the correct answer is b. 2.