Question

how would I write the chemical equation when sodium hydroxide is mixed with water reacts with carbon dioxide in the atmosphere to produce carbonic acid?

Answer 1

@Shalante

Answer 2

I'm thinking this would need at least 2 steps

\(\sf NaOH +H_2O+CO_2\rightarrow H_2CO_3+NaOH\rightarrow NaHCO_3+H_2O\)

Answer 3

I think this requires two steps.


So first equation is sodium hydroxide mixed with water
Since sodium hydroxide is soluble in water it dissociates into ions.
\[NaOH(s)+H _{2}O(l)\rightarrow Na ^{+}(aq)+OH ^{-}(aq)+H _{2} O(l)\]
It then reacts with carbon dioxide

So the 2nd chemical equation is.
\[Na ^{+}(aq)+OH ^{-}(aq)+H _{2}O(l)+CO _{2} (g)\rightarrow H _{2}CO _{3}(aq)+Na ^{+}(aq)+OH ^{-}(aq)\]

Answer 4

What do you think @Jhannybean ?

Answer 5

@Photon336
What is your approach to this?

Answer 6

in the last equation you wrote, \(\sf Na ^{+}(aq)+OH ^{-}(aq)+H _{2}O(l)+CO _{2} (g)\rightarrow H _{2}CO _{3}(aq)+Na ^{+}(aq)+OH ^{-}(aq)\)

Can ions really behave that way? :o

Answer 7

Yes because it is in aqueous solution.
Carbonic acid (H2CO3 is the solvent.
Na+ and OH- is the solute.

Answer 8

I agree with your approach @shalante

Answer 9

Thanks for feedback @Photon336

Answer 10

Oh I see, I wasnt familiar with that method but it makes sense after I looked more into it :D

Answer 11

What was your attempt on this?

Answer 12

At first I had: \(\sf NaOH + H_2O + CO_2 ~\rightarrow ~ H_2CO_3 + ...\) Wasn't too sure how to write out the rest... But i understand a little more now

Answer 13

pshsh taking credit for what i initially wrote lol ..

Answer 14

Hahaaha no I had that written before you wrote it!!!!

Answer 15

I didnt know how else they combined xD

Answer 16

Not 100% sure.

Does it look logical to you?

Answer 17

Yeah, it does indeed.