Hi,
I've been trying to solve this chemical equation for the last 30 minutes and am only confusing myself. I am wondering if the product I obtained is correct.
The question is to write a balanced equation for the below reaction and be sure to indicate the states and if there is a reaction.
NH4OH (aq) + H2OCO3 (aq) ---> ?
This is what I got: (NH4)2CO3 (aq) + H2O (aq). But Im beginning to think that there is no reaction because they are all weak electrolytes. Please help. Thanks!
I strongly suspect that H2OCO3 should have been H2CO3. Is that correct as written or did you make a typo?
Dr. Bob, you are correct I made a typo the reactants are NH4OH (aq) + H2CO3 (aq).
My answer is still the same as above. Is my answer correct? I have not balanced it yet.
Also,I believe there is no reaction, due to being weak electrolytes.
Yes, (NH4)2 + H2O are the products of the reaction. Yes, you need to balance it.
Hi,
I understand that you're having difficulty solving the chemical equation NH4OH (aq) + H2OCO3 (aq) ---> ? and determining if there is a reaction. I will guide you through the process of balancing the equation and determining if a reaction occurs.
To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation is the same. Let's break down the equation:
NH4OH (aq) + H2OCO3 (aq) ---> ?
On the left side, we have the ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) and the water-soluble compound hydrogen carbonate (H2OCO3), also known as bicarbonate.
First, let's identify the elements involved in this reaction: nitrogen (N), hydrogen (H), oxygen (O), and carbon (C).
Starting with nitrogen (N), we have one N atom on the left side with NH4OH, and no N atoms on the right side. Therefore, to balance nitrogen, we need to add a coefficient of 2 to NH4OH:
2NH4OH (aq) + H2OCO3 (aq) ---> ?
Next, let's balance the hydrogen (H) atoms. On the left side, we have 8 H atoms from NH4OH, while on the right side, we have only 2 H atoms from H2OCO3. To balance hydrogen, we need to add a coefficient of 4 in front of H2OCO3:
2NH4OH (aq) + 4H2OCO3 (aq) ---> ?
Now, let's balance the oxygen (O) atoms. On the left side, we have 2 O atoms from NH4OH and 12 O atoms from H2OCO3, totaling 14 O atoms. We need to balance this on the right side by adding a coefficient of 7 in front of H2OCO3:
2NH4OH (aq) + 4H2OCO3 (aq) ---> 7H2O (aq) + ?
Now we have balanced the equation, and the final form is:
2NH4OH (aq) + 4H2OCO3 (aq) ---> 7H2O (aq) + ?
To determine if a reaction occurs, we need to consider the reactivity of the compounds. NH4OH is a weak base, and H2OCO3 is a weak acid, also known as carbonic acid. When weak acids and bases react, they typically form water and a salt. In this case, the reaction would form water (H2O) and a salt, which is (NH4)2CO3.
Therefore, the correct balanced equation for the reaction NH4OH (aq) + H2OCO3 (aq) is:
2NH4OH (aq) + 4H2OCO3 (aq) ---> 7H2O (aq) + (NH4)2CO3 (aq)
I hope this explanation helps you understand how to balance chemical equations and determine if a reaction occurs. Let me know if you have any further questions!