NaHCO3 + H2SO4 Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2
Use minimal integer numbers to balance the reaction. Include physical states in your answer.
How in the world do you distinguish between reactants and products WITHOUT an ARROW???
I assume the arrow goes after H2SO4 and before Na2SO4.
2NaHCO3 + H2SO4 ==> Na2SO4 + 2CO2 + 2H2O
To balance the chemical equation NaHCO3 + H2SO4 -> Na2SO4 + H2O + CO2, we need to have the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation.
Let's start by balancing the hydrogen (H) atoms. There are two H atoms in H2SO4, so we need to have two H atoms on the product side. To achieve this, we can place a coefficient of 2 in front of H2O on the product side.
Next, let's balance the sulfur (S) atoms. There is one S atom in H2SO4, so we need to have one S atom on the product side. It is already balanced since there is one S atom in Na2SO4.
Now, let's balance the oxygen (O) atoms. There are four O atoms in H2SO4, two O atoms in Na2SO4, and one O atom in NaHCO3. This gives us a total of seven O atoms on the product side. To balance this, we can place a coefficient of 3 in front of NaHCO3 on the reactant side.
Lastly, let's balance the carbon (C) atoms. There is one C atom in NaHCO3, so we need to have one C atom on the product side. It is already balanced since there is one C atom in CO2.
The balanced equation is:
3NaHCO₃(s) + H2SO₄(l) -> Na₂SO₄(aq) + 2H₂O(l) + 3CO₂(g)
In this equation, (s) stands for solid, (l) stands for liquid, and (aq) stands for aqueous solution. The reactant sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is in the solid state, and the product sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is in the aqueous state. The water (H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2) produced are in the liquid and gaseous states, respectively.