Question

Be sure to answer all parts. Nicotine can be made when the following ammonium salt is treated with Na₂CO₃. Determine a stepwise mechanism for this reaction.

Answer 1

The reaction between the ammonium salt and Na2CO3 is a double replacement reaction, resulting in the formation of sodium X and ammonium carbonate.

Step-by-step explanation:

The reaction between the given ammonium salt and Na2CO3 is a double replacement reaction. Here's a stepwise mechanism for this reaction:

Step 1: The ammonium salt dissociates into ammonium ion (NH4+) and a negative ion (X-).

Step 2: Na2CO3 dissociates into sodium ions (Na+) and carbonate ions (CO32-).

Step 3: In the first double replacement step, ammonium ion reacts with carbonate ion to form ammonium carbonate (NH4)2CO3.

Step 4: In the second double replacement step, sodium ion reacts with the negative ion (X-) to form sodium X (NaX).

Therefore, the overall reaction is:

(NH4)2X + Na2CO3 → NaX + (NH4)2CO3