Answer to Question #114383 in General Chemistry for lori

Question

NaOH+H2CO3

Answer 1

Solution:

This is an acid-base reaction (neutralization): NaOH is a base, H₂CO₃ is an acid.

The general mechanism for a neutrallization reaction is as follows:

Acid + Base → Salt + Water.

1) H₂CO₃(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) → Na₂CO₃(aq) + 2H₂O(l) (molecular equation)

Since carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) is a weak acid, we do not ionize it so it stays as is on the left side of the equation.

H₂CO₃(aq) + 2Na⁺(aq) + 2OH^-(aq) → 2H₂O(l) + 2Na⁺(aq) + CO₃^2-(aq) (complete ionic equation)

H₂CO₃(aq) + 2OH^-(aq) → 2H₂O(l) + CO₃^2-(aq) (net ionic equation)

2) H₂CO₃(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NaHCO₃(aq) + H₂O(l) (molecular equation)

Since carbonic acid (H₂CO₃) is a weak acid, we do not ionize it so it stays as is on the left side of the equation.

H₂CO₃(aq) + Na⁺(aq) + OH^-(aq) → H₂O(l) + Na⁺(aq) + HCO₃^-(aq) (complete ionic equation)

H₂CO₃(aq) + OH^-(aq) → H₂O(l) + HCO₃^-(aq) (net ionic equation)

Both sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) are salts.