Sodium carbonate is a carbonate salt and readily reacts with H2SO4. Let us know more about the reaction between H2SO4 and Na2CO3.
Na2CO3 is a basic metal carbonate that is white in color. It easily undergoes a reaction with H2SO4, a colorless, strong acid. Sodium carbonate is a Lowry-Bronsted base, capable of accepting H+ from H2SO4.
In this article, we will discuss some facts about the reaction H2SO4 + Na2CO3, like the type of reaction, conjugate pairs, balancing method etc.
What is the product of H2SO4 and Na2CO3?
Sodium sulphate, water and bubbles of carbon dioxide are obtained when H2SO4 is added to Na2CO3.
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 ———> Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
What type of reaction is H2SO4 + Na2CO3?
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 is a neutralization reaction, along with double decomposition reaction.
How to balance H2SO4 + Na2CO3?
The equation is balanced using the following steps.
Na2CO3 + H2SO4 = Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O
- Count the number of each element involved in the reaction, in both the reactant and product side.
Elements | Reactant side | Product side |
---|---|---|
Na | 2 | 2 |
C | 1 | 1 |
S | 1 | 1 |
O | 7 | 7 |
H | 2 | 2 |
- We find that the numbers of each element in the reactant and product side is equal. Hence the reaction is self-balanced.
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 titration
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is a strong acid-weak base titration. To estimate the normality of H2SO4, we can titrate Na2CO3 and H2SO4 using the following procedure.
Apparatus
Burette, burette stand, conical flask, glass funnel, 10 ml pipette, and beaker.
Indicator
Methyl orange is used as the indicator.
Procedure
- Pipette out 10 ml of the standardized Na2CO3 solution and add a few drops of indicator.
- Fill the burette with H2SO4 solution, whose normality is to be known.
- Slowly add H2SO4 from the burette into the conical flask with constant stirring.
- The endpoint is the appearance of orange-red color.
- Note the burette reading and repeat the procedure for 3 concurrent readings.
- We can find the unknown normality of H2SO4 by using the formula, V1S1=V2S2.
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 net ionic equation
The net ionic equation of H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is –
2H+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) = CO2 (g) + H2O (l)
To derive the net ionic equation, the following steps are followed:
- Write the ionic form of each of the substances along with their states. The complete ionic equation of H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is –
- 2H+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) + 2Na+ (aq) + CO32- (aq) = 2Na+ (aq) + SO42- (aq) + CO2 (g) +H2O (l)
- Cancel the spectator ions (SO42-, Na+), which appear on both sides of the equation, to arrive at the net ionic equation.
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 conjugate pairs
- Conjugate base of the acid H2SO4 = HSO4–
- Conjugate acid of the base Na2CO3 = HCO3–
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 intermolecular forces
- Ionic, dipole-dipole, hydrogen bonding and Van der Waals dispersion force are the intermolecular forces that exist in H2SO4.
- Electrostatic force of attraction exists in Na2CO3 between the metallic sodium ions and polyatomic carbonate ions.
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 reaction enthalpy
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 reaction enthalpy is -122.4 KJ/mol, and the negative sign denotes that heat is liberated during this reaction.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 a buffer solution?
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is not a buffer solution because the reaction mixture contains H2SO4, which is a strong acid.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 a complete reaction?
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is a complete reaction, as aqueous sulphuric acid completely neutralizes sodium carbonate to form sodium sulphate.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 an exothermic reaction?
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is an exothermic reaction, as the reaction enthalpy is negative.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 a redox reaction?
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is not a redox reaction, as no element is neither oxidized nor reduced.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 a precipitation reaction?
The reaction H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is not a precipitation reaction as the product, sodium sulphate, formed is completely soluble in water.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 irreversible reaction?
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is an irreversible reaction because, at equilibrium, the reactants are completely converted into Na2SO4, along with the release of CO2 gas.
Is H2SO4 + Na2CO3 a displacement reaction?
The reaction between H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is an example of double displacement reaction, followed by an immediate decomposition reaction of unstable carbonic acid (H2CO3) into CO2 and water.
Conclusion
H2SO4 + Na2CO3 is a typical carbonate-acid reaction, in which the thermodynamically unstable carbonic acid decomposes into gaseous CO2 and water. Na2CO3 is used as a water softener, while H2SO4 is used widely as an industrial agent.
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