Final answer:
To find the sum of the masses of silica and sodium hydroxide required to produce 3.6 grams of water, the stoichiometry of their dissolution reaction is needed. While the exact quantities cannot be provided without the balanced chemical equation, the general approach involves using molar masses and balanced equation stoichiometry to convert from mass of water to masses of reactants.
Step-by-step explanation:
To calculate the sum of the mass of silica and sodium hydroxide needed when 3.6 grams of water is produced, we must perform a stoichiometric calculation based on the chemical equations involved in the process.
The relevant reaction here is the dissolution process of silica (SiO₂) in sodium hydroxide (NaOH) solution to form sodium silicate (Na₂SiO₃) and water (H₂O). Since silica dissolves in sodium hydroxide, the stoichiometry of the reaction must be determined to find the masses of silica and sodium hydroxide needed. However, the chemical equation for the dissolution was not provided in the question.
Without the exact equation, we cannot provide a precise answer, but the student should look for the balanced chemical equation and then use the molar masses of silica and sodium hydroxide to find out how many moles of each substance are needed to produce 3.6 grams of water. Then, by knowing the moles, the student can convert these to grams using the molar mass of each compound.