Question

The fluoride rinse in dental offices usually contains sodium fluoride. Sodium fluoride can be prepared from the reaction between sodium metal and fluorine gas. Which properly represents the balanced chemical equation for this reaction? Na(s) + f2(g) → naf2(s) na(s) + f(g) → naf(s) 7na(s) + f(g) → na7f(s) 2na(s) + f2(g) → 2na2f(s) 2na(s) + f2(g) → 2naf(s) why is it important to understand this equation? What do you think could happen if this is incorrect? G

Answer 1

The correct equation is:

2Na (s) + F₂ (g) → 2NaF (s)

It is essential to understand the equation, as the correct equation results in the proper proportion of the species in the reaction, resulting in the production of the accurate product species. The fluorine is a diatomic gas, so F₂ will demonstrate it in the reaction. NaF is sodium chloride and Na is sodium. Thus, by balancing the equation accurately, one can get to the final equation 2Na (s) + F₂ (g) = 2NaF (s). If this is incorrect, it can result in the production of the inaccurate product.

Answer 2

The chemical reaction in which number of atoms of each element present in the reactant side is equal to the number of atoms of that element in product side, such reactions are said to be a balanced chemical reaction.

The chemical symbol for sodium is
`Na`.

The chemical symbol for fluorine gas is
`F_2`.

The chemical symbol for sodium fluoride is
`NaF`

The sodium fluoride is prepared from the reaction between sodium metal and fluorine gas can be written as:

`Na (s)+F_2(g) \rightarrow NaF(s)`

The above reaction is not balanced as the number of fluorine atoms are not same on reactant and product side. So, in order to balance the reaction we will multiply
`Na` with 2 on reactant side and
`NaF` with 2 on product side. Thus, the balanced reaction will be:

`2Na (s)+F_2 (g)\rightarrow 2NaF(s)`

Thus, the balanced chemical equation is
`2Na (s)+F_2 (g)\rightarrow 2NaF(s)`.