Question

The first step in the reaction of Alka-Seltzer with stomach acid consists of one mole of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) reacting with one mole of hydrochloric acid (HCl) to produce one mole of carbonic acid (H2CO3), and one mole of sodium chloride (NaCl). Using this chemical stoichiometry, determine the number of moles of carbonic acid that can be produced from 5 mol of NaHCO3 and 8 mol of HCl.

Answer 1

5 moles of carbonic acid will be produced.

Step-by-step explanation:

`NaHCO_3+HCl\rightarrow  H_2CO_3 + NaCl`

Moles of sodium bicarbonate = 5 moles

According to reaction , 1 mole of sodium bicarbonate reacts with 1 mole of HCl.

Then 5 moles of sodium bicarbonate will react with:

`(1)/(1)* 5 mol= 5 mol` of HCl

Since, we have 8 moles of HCl. this means that sodium bicarbonate is in limiting amount. Hence, amount of carbonic acid formed will depend upon moles of sodium bicarbonate.

According to reaction , 1 mole of sodium bicarbonate gives with 1 mole of carbonic acid .

Then 5 moles of sodium bicarbonate will give :

`(1)/(1)* 5 mol= 5 mol` of carbonic acid.

5 moles of carbonic acid will be produced.