when sulfuric acid is added to solid sodium chloride and the mixture is heated, hydrogen chloride gas is generated, leaving a solid residue of sodium sulfate
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When sulfuric acid (H2SO4) is added to solid sodium chloride (NaCl) and the mixture is heated, a chemical reaction occurs. The reaction can be represented by the following equation:
2NaCl + H2SO4 -> 2HCl + Na2SO4
In this reaction, sulfuric acid reacts with sodium chloride to form hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) as solid residue.
To understand why this reaction occurs, we need to consider the nature of the reactants and the products. Sulfuric acid is a strong acid, which means it readily donates protons (H+) in a solution. Sodium chloride is a salt composed of sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-).
When sulfuric acid is added to solid sodium chloride, the following steps take place:
1. Sulfuric acid dissociates in water to form hydronium ions (H3O+) and sulfate ions (SO4^2-):
H2SO4 -> 2H+ + SO4^2-
2. Sodium chloride dissociates in water to form sodium ions (Na+) and chloride ions (Cl-):
NaCl -> Na+ + Cl-
3. In the reaction, the hydrogen ions (H+) from sulfuric acid react with the chloride ions (Cl-) from sodium chloride to form hydrogen chloride (HCl) gas:
H+ + Cl- -> HCl
4. The remaining SO4^2- ions combine with sodium ions (Na+) to form sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) as a solid residue:
2Na+ + SO4^2- -> Na2SO4
As a result of this reaction, hydrogen chloride gas (HCl) is generated, which can be observed as a gas evolving from the mixture. In addition, a solid residue of sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is left behind.
Please note that this reaction should be performed with caution, as sulfuric acid is a strong corrosive substance, and the reaction produces toxic hydrogen chloride gas.