Question

Sodium bicarbonate is sometimes used to neutralize acid spills. If 2.0 L of 1.0 M H2SO4 is spilled, what mass of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is required to neutralize all the H2SO4?

Answer 1

Answer:

168.0 g

Explanation:

First thing, write a balanced chemical equation:

$H_{2}SO_{4}+ 2NaHCO_{3} ----> Na_{2}SO_{4} + 2H_{2}O+2CO_{2}$

n(H2SO4) = concentration * volume

                = 1.0 M * 2.0 L

                = 2.0 mol

According to the balanced equation, 1 mol of acid requires 2 mol of sodium bicarbonate. This means that 2 mol of acid requires 2 mol of sodium bicarbonate. What mass of sodium bicarbonate is this?

mass (NaHCO3) = number of moles * molar mass

                           = 2.0 mol * 84.0065 g/mol

                           = 168.0 g