Question

select the correct answer from each drop - down menu. 2naoh + h₂so₄ → na₂so₄ + h₂o the equation is because the number of hydrogen atoms and atoms is in the reactants and in the products.

Explanation:

Step1: Count hydrogen atoms

On the reactant side: In \(2NaOH\), hydrogen atoms are \(2\times1 = 2\), and in \(H_2SO_4\) there are 2 hydrogen atoms. So total hydrogen atoms in reactants are \(2 + 2=4\). On the product side, in \(2H_2O\) (after balancing the equation correctly, it should be \(2H_2O\) for atom - balance), there are \(2\times2 = 4\) hydrogen atoms.

Step2: Count oxygen atoms

On the reactant side: In \(2NaOH\), oxygen atoms are \(2\times1=2\), and in \(H_2SO_4\) there are 4 oxygen atoms. So total oxygen atoms in reactants are \(2 + 4 = 6\). On the product side, in \(Na_2SO_4\) there are 4 oxygen atoms and in \(2H_2O\) there are 2 oxygen atoms, making a total of \(4+2 = 6\) oxygen atoms. Also, sodium and sulfur atoms are balanced.

Step3: Determine balance

Since the number of atoms of each element (hydrogen, oxygen, sodium, and sulfur) is the same in the reactants and products, the equation needs to be balanced correctly. The correct balanced equation is \(2NaOH + H_2SO_4=Na_2SO_4 + 2H_2O\).

Answer:

The equation is unbalanced because the number of hydrogen atoms and oxygen atoms is not equal in the reactants and in the products (the correct balanced form should have \(2H_2O\) on the product - side). After balancing, the equation is \(2NaOH + H_2SO_4=Na_2SO_4 + 2H_2O\) where the number of atoms of each element is equal on both sides. In the original unbalanced equation shown, the equation is unbalanced.