How many milliliters of sodium metal, with a density of 0.97 g/mL, would be needed to produce 43.6 grams of sodium hydroxide in the single replacement reaction below? Be sure to show the work that you did to solve this problem.

Balanced equation: 2Na+2H2O---2NaOH+H2

Question

How many milliliters of sodium metal, with a density of 0.97 g/mL, would be needed to produce 43.6 grams of sodium hydroxide in the single replacement reaction below? Be sure to show the work that you did to solve this problem. 

Balanced equation: 2Na+2H2O--->2NaOH+H2

anonymous · Answer

Let's start with the formula weight of sodium hydroxide: 23 for sodium, 1 for hydrogen and 16 for oxygen so 40 altogether. 43.6 g is 1.09 moles so 1.09 moles of sodium required: 23 times 1.09 is 25.07g. 25.07 divided by the density of 0.97 is 25.85ml.