Question

Sodium carbonate (na2co3) is used to neutralize the sulfuric acid spill. how many kilograms of sodium carbonate must be added to neutralize 5.04×103 kg of sulfuric acid solution? express your answer with the appropriate units.

Answer 1

Sodium carbonate is used to neutralised sulfuric acid, H₂SO₄. Sodium carbonate is the salt of stron base (NaOH) and weak acid (H₂CO₃). The balanced chemical reaction for neutralization is as follows:

Na₂CO₃ + H₂SO₄→ Na₂SO₄ + H₂CO₃

From balanced chemical equation, it is clear that one mole of Na₂CO₃ is required to neutralize one mole of  H₂SO₄. Molar mass of Na₂CO₃= 106 g/mol=0.106 kg/mol and molar mass of H₂SO₄= 98 g/mol=0.098 kg/mol.

To neutralize 0.098 kg of H₂SO₄ amount of Na₂CO₃ required is 0.106 kg, so, to neutralize 5.04×10³ kg of H₂SO₄, Na₂CO₃ required is=$\frac{0.106 X 5.04 X 10^{3} }{0.098}$ kg= 5.451 X 10³ kg.