Question

question 9 (1 point)
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for the aqueous reaction of sulfuric acid and sodium hydroxide to form products (you should figure out the products), what is the balanced equation?

1. h₂so₄(aq) + 2naoh(aq) → na₂so₄(aq) + 2h₂o(l)
2. hso₄(aq) + naoh(aq) → naso₄(aq) + h₂o(l)
3. h₂so₄(aq) + naoh(aq) → na₂so₄(aq) + h₂o(l)
4. none of the above

Explanation:

Step1: Identify Reaction Type

This is an acid - base (neutralization) reaction. Sulfuric acid ($\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}}$) is a strong acid, sodium hydroxide ($\ce{NaOH}$) is a strong base. The products of a neutralization reaction between an acid and a base are a salt and water. The salt here will be formed from the cation of the base ($\ce{Na+}$) and the anion of the acid ($\ce{SO_4^{2 - }}$), so the salt is sodium sulfate ($\ce{Na_{2}SO_{4}}$), and the other product is water ($\ce{H_{2}O}$).

Step2: Balance the Equation

• For $\ce{Na}$ atoms: On the left side, in $\ce{NaOH}$, we have 1 $\ce{Na}$ atom. On the right side, in $\ce{Na_{2}SO_{4}}$, we have 2 $\ce{Na}$ atoms. So we need to put a coefficient of 2 in front of $\ce{NaOH}$ to balance the $\ce{Na}$ atoms.
• For $\ce{H}$ atoms: On the left side, in $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ we have 2 $\ce{H}$ atoms and in 2 $\ce{NaOH}$ we have 2 $\ce{H}$ atoms (2×1), so total 4 $\ce{H}$ atoms on the left. On the right side, in $\ce{H_{2}O}$, each $\ce{H_{2}O}$ has 2 $\ce{H}$ atoms. To get 4 $\ce{H}$ atoms, we need 2 $\ce{H_{2}O}$ molecules.
• For $\ce{S}$ atoms: On the left side, in $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ we have 1 $\ce{S}$ atom. On the right side, in $\ce{Na_{2}SO_{4}}$ we have 1 $\ce{S}$ atom, so $\ce{S}$ is balanced.
• For $\ce{O}$ atoms: On the left side, in $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ we have 4 $\ce{O}$ atoms, in 2 $\ce{NaOH}$ we have 2×1 = 2 $\ce{O}$ atoms, total 6 $\ce{O}$ atoms. On the right side, in $\ce{Na_{2}SO_{4}}$ we have 4 $\ce{O}$ atoms, in 2 $\ce{H_{2}O}$ we have 2×1 = 2 $\ce{O}$ atoms, total 6 $\ce{O}$ atoms. So the balanced equation is $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}(aq) + 2NaOH(aq)

ightarrow Na_{2}SO_{4}(aq) + 2H_{2}O(l)}$.

Now let's check the other options:

• Option 2: The formula for sulfuric acid is incorrect (it should be $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}}$ not $\ce{HSO_{4}}$) and the formula for the salt is also incorrect (should be $\ce{Na_{2}SO_{4}}$ not $\ce{NaSO_{4}}$).
• Option 3: The number of $\ce{NaOH}$ and $\ce{H_{2}O}$ molecules is incorrect. If we use 1 $\ce{NaOH}$, we can't balance the $\ce{Na}$ and $\ce{H}$ atoms properly.

Answer:

1. $\ce{H_{2}SO_{4}(aq) + 2NaOH(aq)

ightarrow Na_{2}SO_{4}(aq) + 2H_{2}O(l)}$