Question

Alka-Seltzer is a solid mixture of two substances, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) and citric acid (H3C6H5O7). The substances react to form water, carbon dioxide (CO2), and Na3C6H5O7.

List the reactants:



List the products:



Write the balanced chemical equation.

Answer 1

1) List the reactants: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and citric acid (H₃C₆H₅O₇).

Reactants undergo change during a chemical reaction.

2) List the products: water (H₂O), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and sodium citrate (Na₃C₆H₅O₇).

Products are the substances formed from chemical reactions.

3) The balanced chemical equation:

3NaHCO₃ + H₃C₆H₅O₇ → 3H₂O + 3CO₂ + Na₃C₆H₅O₇.