Chapter 9.2, Problem 17PP

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The chemical equation of the reaction between Sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide to produce aqueous sodium sulfate and water needs to be determined and the reaction type needs to be classified.

Concept introduction:

In a chemical reaction, the reactants are written on the left side of the equation and the product is written on the right side. The product and the reactants contain an arrow between them showing the proceeding of the reaction from the reactants to the products.

A chemical equation is balanced by balancing the number of moles of each element on the reactants and on the products.

Answer to Problem 17PP

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to {\text{Na}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}{\text{2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{l}\right)$

This is a double replacement type reaction.

Explanation of Solution

The chemical equation of the reaction is as follows:

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to {\text{Na}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}{\text{H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{l}\right)$

The above equation is not balanced, to balance the chemical equation give coefficient 2 to NaOH and H₂O as follows:

${\text{H}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to {\text{Na}}_{\text{2}}{\text{SO}}_{\text{4}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}{\text{2H}}_{\text{2}}\text{O}\left(\text{l}\right)$

This is a double replacement type reaction, because, in this reaction, hydrogen and sodium exchange their anionic partners.