complete the equation for the dissociation of Na2CO3(aq). Omit Water from the equation because it is understood to be present. Na2CO3 (aq)=
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The dissociation equation for sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) in aqueous solution is:Na2CO3(aq)→2Na+(aq)+CO32−(aq)\text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 (aq) \rightarrow 2\text{Na}^+ (aq) + \text{CO}_3^{2-} (aq)Na2CO3(aq)→2Na+(aq)+CO32−(aq)
Explanation:
When sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) dissolves in water, it undergoes dissociation, meaning it breaks up into its constituent ions. This is a typical example of an ionic compound dissolving in water, where the solid Na₂CO₃ is separated into ions.
- Na₂CO₃ (aq): Sodium carbonate in its aqueous state is the reactant. The “(aq)” denotes that it is dissolved in water.
- 2Na⁺ (aq): Sodium carbonate consists of two sodium (Na⁺) ions for every one carbonate (CO₃²⁻) ion. The sodium ions are positively charged because sodium (Na) is an alkali metal and readily loses its electron to form a cation (Na⁺). The “(aq)” next to Na⁺ indicates that the sodium ions are in aqueous solution, meaning they are surrounded by water molecules.
- CO₃²⁻ (aq): The carbonate ion (CO₃²⁻) is a negatively charged polyatomic ion composed of one carbon atom and three oxygen atoms. The “(aq)” next to CO₃²⁻ indicates that it is dissolved in water.
In this dissociation process, sodium carbonate dissociates completely into its ions in aqueous solution, meaning that the reaction goes to completion, and there are no intact Na₂CO₃ molecules left in the solution. This complete dissociation is a characteristic property of soluble ionic compounds in water.
The reason water is omitted in the equation is because it is understood to be the medium in which the dissociation occurs, and it doesn’t change the overall dissociation process itself. Therefore, water is not explicitly shown in the equation.
