Question

Write a balanced molecular and net ionic equation for:

HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq)
Options:
A. HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq)
B. H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) → HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq)
C. HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq)
D. H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) → HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq)

Answer 1

The balanced molecular equation for the reaction between HC₆H₅CO₂ and NaOH is HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq), and the net ionic equation is HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + OH- (aq) → H₂O (l) + C₆H₅COO- (aq).

Step-by-step explanation:

The balanced molecular equation for the reaction between benzoic acid (HC₆H₅CO₂) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is

Option C: HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + NaOH (aq) → H₂O (l) + NaC₆H₅CO₂ (aq).


This is an acid-base reaction where benzoic acid reacts with sodium hydroxide to produce water and sodium benzoate.

To write the net ionic equation, first, we should realize that benzoic acid is a weak acid and does not completely dissociate in water, so it stays as HC₆H₅CO₂ in the ionic equation. Sodium hydroxide, however, dissociates completely into Na+ and OH- ions. The net ionic equation shows the substances that change state or form new substances:

HC₆H₅CO₂ (aq) + OH- (aq) → H₂O (l) + C₆H₅COO- (aq)

Here, Na+ ions are spectator ions, as they do not participate in the actual chemical reaction, so they are not included in the net ionic equation.