Question

Aqueous sulfuric acid H2SO4 will react with solid sodium hydroxide NaOH to produce aqueous sodium sulfate Na2SO4 and liquid water H2O. Suppose 4.9 g of sulfuric acid is mixed with 1.84 g of sodium hydroxide. Calculate the maximum mass of sodium sulfate that could be produced by the chemical reaction. Round your answer to 3 significant digits.

Answer 1

H2SO4 + 2NaOH -----------> Na2SO4 + 2H2O

first calculate limiting reagent

according to balanced reaction

98 g H2SO4 reacts with 2 x 40 g NaOH

4.9 g H2SO4 reacts with 4.9 x 2 x 40 / 98 =4.0 g NaOH

but we have only 1.84 g NaOH.

so limiting reagent = NaOH

now

2 x 40 g NaOH gives 142 g Na2SO4

1.84 g NaOH gives 1.84 x 142 / 2 x 40 = 3.27 g

mass of Na2SO4 formed =3.27 g