15 Facts on H2SO4 + Na2CO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Sodium carbonate is a carbonate salt and readily reacts with H₂SO_4. Let us know more about the reaction between H₂SO₄ and Na₂CO_3.

Na₂CO₃ is a basic metal carbonate that is white in color. It easily undergoes a reaction with H₂SO_4, a colorless, strong acid. Sodium carbonate is a Lowry-Bronsted base, capable of accepting H⁺ from H₂SO_4.

In this article, we will discuss some facts about the reaction H₂SO₄ + Na₂CO_3, 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.

• 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 H₂SO_4, 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) + CO₃^2- (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) + SO₄^2- (aq) + 2Na⁺ (aq) + CO₃^2- (aq) = 2Na⁺ (aq) + SO₄^2- (aq) + CO₂ (g) +H₂O (l)
• Cancel the spectator ions (SO₄^2-, 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.

Vishnupriya Tadury

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