Question

If a 0.5M soln. of CuSO4 is added to 1.0M soln NaHCO3, significant effervescence is observed.

If CuSO4 is added to 1.0M of NaCO3, little or no effervescence is observed.

Explain why?

(Effervescence is like bubbles).

I'm thinking hydrogen gas, but how can I explain this in terms of net ions and acid-base equilibria?

Answer 1

@thomaster Do you know this?

Answer 2

CuSO4 + 2NaHCO3 --> CO2 + CuCO3 + H2O + Na2SO4
CuSO4 + Na2CO3 --> CuCO3 + Na2SO4

so i guess it's the carbon dioxide

Answer 3

CO2 + H2O makes carbonic acid which has a lot of effervescence

Answer 4

Yes but that's a chemical equilibrium.
CO2 + H2O <-> H2CO3
so it's just the CO2 that causes the effervescence