15 Facts on H2SO4 + CH3COONa: What, How To Balance & FAQs

In a chemical reaction chemical symbols are used to denote reactant and product. Let us discuss about the reaction of H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa.

Sulphuric acid or H₂SO₄ is a strong acid and sodium acetate, CH₃COONa is a sodium salt if acetic acid. Both dissociate in water to give respective ions and are soluble in water. Sodium acetate is a colorless substance which is deliquescent in nature. It’s crystal structure is monoclinic.

Sodium acetate is a buffering agent with molar mass 82.034 g/mol. Let us discuss about H₂SO₄+ CH₃COONa with all details.

What is the product of H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa

H₂SO₄ reacts with CH₃COONa to give acetic acid and sodium hydrogen sulphate.

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa ——–> CH₃COOH + NaHSO₄

What type of reaction is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is a displacement reaction. In this reaction sodium is displaced from sodium acetate by hydrogen of H₂SO₄ to yield the products.

How to balance H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa

Balancing a chemical reaction is needed and it gives information about the number of molecules reacted. Following is the reaction balancing steps.

• Assigning certain coefficients to both reactants and products

• a H₂SO₄ + b CH₃COONa —–> c CH₃COOH + d NaHSO₄

• An equation is made with the above equation

• H= 2a= 3b =4c = d, S =a =d, O =4a= 2b = 2c= 4d, C =2b =2c, Na = b= d

• 2a +3b= 4c +d, a=d, 4a+ 2b=2c+ 4d, 2b=2c, b =d

• Solve the above equation using gauss elimination method

• a =1, b= 1, c= 1, d= 1

• The balanced equation of H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is

• H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa —–> CH₃COOH + NaHSO₄

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa titration

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa titration can be performed. It is because one is strong acid and other one is a weak base. So they can be titrated against to get the endpoint sharply.

Apparatus

Conical flask, pipette, burette, H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa solution.

Indicator

Methyl orange is used because we are titrating strong acid and weak base

Procedure

• 20 ml of sodium acetate solution is pipetted into a conical flask and burette is filled with H₂SO₄.

• Methyl orange indicator is added into the solution in conical flask until it turns into a yellow color.

• Titrate the solution against sulphuric acid in burette until the color changes from yellow to red color.

• Note down the burette reading and do the respective calculations.

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa net ionic equation

The net ionic equation of H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa is,

2H⁺ + SO^2-₄ + CH₃COO^– ——> 2CH₃COOH + HSO^–₄ .

H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa conjugate Pairs

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa reaction has the following conjugate pairs,

• The conjugate pairs of H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa is HSO^–₄ and CH₃COOH respectively.
• Both are acids so one of the proton is eliminated to get its conjugate base.

H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa intermolecular forces

The intermolecular forces exist in between H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is

• In H₂SO₄ there is ionic force of attraction can be seen in between H⁺ ion and SO₄^2- .
• In CH₃COONa ionic force between sodium and acetate, dipole dipole interaction between carbon and oxygen and pure covalent bonds between carbon and hydrogen.

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy of H₂SO₄ + CH3COONa is positive. The enthalpy of formation of H₂SO₄, CH₃COOH, and CH₃COONa is -814, -491, and -24.6 kJ/mol respectively.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa a buffer solution

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is not a buffer solution. A buffer solution is made by mixing a weak acid or weak base with its conjugate base or acid respectively. Here H₂SO₄ a strong acid. But CH₃COONa is a weak acid it’s buffer can be prepared by mixing with its conjugate acid like CH₃COOH to get its buffer solution.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa a complete reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is a complete reaction. The reaction takes place at room temperature to yield acetic acid and sodium hydrogen sulphate. Here sulphuric acid displaces weaker ions from its salts.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa an exothermic or endothermic reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is an endothermic reaction. The reaction doesn’t liberate any amount of heat. So it is an endothermic reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa a redox reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is not a redox reaction as the oxidation state of all the atoms are same before and after the reaction.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa a precipitation reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is reaction doesn’t form any precipitate. Acetic acid and sodium hydrogen sulphate is the product formed here and both are liquid like nature.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa reversible or irreversible reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is an irreversible reaction as they cant be reversed to yield it’s reactants.

Is H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa a displacement reaction

H₂SO₄ + CH₃COONa is a Displacement reaction because the weaker ion sodium from sodium acetate is replaced by hydrogen to form acetic acid.

Conclusion

In this article H₂SO₄ and CH₃COONa reacts to sodium hydrogen sulphate and acetic acid. This reaction is found to be a Displacement reaction which is not redox and irreversible while it is endothermic. The reaction does not form any precipitate.