What is the formula equation for the reaction between sulfuric acid and dissolved sodium hydroxide if all products and reactants are in the aqueous or liquid phase?

A. [tex]HCl (aq) + NaOH (aq) \rightarrow NaCl (s) + H_2O (l)[/tex]

B. [tex]H_2SO_4 (aq) + Ca(OH)_2 (aq) \rightarrow CaSO_4 (aq) + 2 H_2O (l)[/tex]

C. [tex]H_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 H_2O (l)[/tex]

D. [tex]2 H_3PO_4 (aq) + 3 Ca(OH)_2 (aq) \rightarrow Ca_3(PO_4)_2 (s) + 6 H_2O (l)[/tex]



Answer :

Certainly! When sulfuric acid [tex]\((H_2SO_4)\)[/tex] reacts with dissolved sodium hydroxide [tex]\((NaOH)\)[/tex], the reaction produces sodium sulfate [tex]\((Na_2SO_4)\)[/tex] and water [tex]\((H_2O)\)[/tex].

To find the balanced chemical equation for this reaction, follow these steps:

1. Write down the reactants and the possible products:
[tex]\[ H_2SO_4 (aq) + NaOH (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + H_2O (l) \][/tex]

2. Balance the sodium atoms:
Since there are two sodium atoms in [tex]\(Na_2SO_4\)[/tex], we need two [tex]\(NaOH\)[/tex] molecules.
[tex]\[ H_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + H_2O (l) \][/tex]

3. Balance the hydrogen atoms:
Each [tex]\(NaOH\)[/tex] provides one hydrogen atom and one hydroxide ion ([tex]\(OH^-\)[/tex]). Two [tex]\(NaOH\)[/tex] molecules will provide two hydrogen atoms in total. Combined with the two hydrogen atoms from [tex]\(H_2SO_4\)[/tex], we have four hydrogen atoms to form two water molecules:
[tex]\[ H_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 H_2O (l) \][/tex]

4. Balance the oxygen atoms:
Each [tex]\(NaOH\)[/tex] provides one [tex]\(OH^-\)[/tex], leading to two [tex]\(OH^-\)[/tex] ions available to bond with the hydrogen atoms to form water, matching the products' two water molecules contribution.

Thus, the correctly balanced chemical equation for this reaction is:
[tex]\[ H_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) \rightarrow Na_2SO_4 (aq) + 2 H_2O (l) \][/tex]

This equation shows that one molecule of sulfuric acid reacts with two molecules of sodium hydroxide to produce one molecule of sodium sulfate and two molecules of water.