(a) List two uses of sodium trioxocarbonate (IV). (b) Sodium trioxocarbonate (IV) solution is alkaline. (i) What phenomenon is responsible for this observat...
Question 1 Report
(a) List two uses of sodium trioxocarbonate (IV).
(b) Sodium trioxocarbonate (IV) solution is alkaline.
(i) What phenomenon is responsible for this observation?
(ii) Name the product obtained on passing carbon (IV) oxide into saturated sodium trioxocarbonate (IV) solution.
Answer Details
(a) Two uses of sodium trioxocarbonate(IV), \(Na_2CO_3\) (washing soda): in the manufacture of glass and in softening hard water. (It is also used in the manufacture of soap, detergents and paper.)
(b)(i) The phenomenon responsible for the alkalinity of sodium trioxocarbonate(IV) solution is salt hydrolysis. Being the salt of a strong base (NaOH) and a weak acid (trioxocarbonate(IV) acid), the carbonate ion reacts with water to release hydroxide ions, making the solution alkaline:
\[CO_3^{2-} + H_2O \rightleftharpoons HCO_3^- + OH^-\]
(ii) When carbon(IV) oxide is passed into a saturated sodium trioxocarbonate(IV) solution, the product obtained is sodium hydrogen trioxocarbonate(IV) (sodium hydrogencarbonate), \(NaHCO_3\):
\[Na_2CO_3 + CO_2 + H_2O \rightarrow 2NaHCO_3\]
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