Question

NaHCO3(s) --> Na2CO3 (s) + H20 (g) + CO2 (g)

Answer 1

Answer:

$2~NaHCO_3 (s)\rightarrow Na_2CO_3 (s) + H_2O (g) + CO_2 (g)$

Explanation:

The reaction will be balanced if on each side of the equation we will have exactly same amounts of each element.

On the left, we have one sodium, on the right we have two, so we may attempt to add a coefficient of two for the reactant, sodium bicarbonate:

$2~NaHCO_3 (s)\rightarrow Na_2CO_3 (s) + H_2O (g) + CO_2 (g)$

Now, let's calculate the number of hydrogen. We have two on the left and two on the right, so hydrogen is balanced.

A total of 2 carbons are present on the left, as well as two carbons on the right (one in sodium carbonate and one in carbon dioxide).

A total of 6 oxygens on the left and 6 on the right, so now the reaction is balanced.