Question

How many milliliters of sodium metal, with a density of 0.97 g/mL, would be needed to produce 12.8 grams of hydrogen gas in the single replacement reaction below? Show all steps of your calculation as well as the final answer.

unbalanced equation: Na + H2O -> NaOH + H2

Answer 1

The balanced chemical reaction is:

2Na + 2H2O -> 2NaOH + H2

We are given the amount of hydrogen gas produced by the reaction. This amount will be the starting point for our calculations.

12.8 g H2 ( 1 mol H2/ 2.02 g H2) ( 2 mol Na / 1 mol H2) (22.99 g Na / 1 mol Na ) (1 mL / 0.97 g) = 606.75 mL Na is needed