Question

The compound sodium hydrogen carbonate is a strong electrolyte. Write the reaction when solid sodium hydrogen carbonate is put into water:

Answer 1

Sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) is a weak electrolyte that undergoes a decomposition reaction in water to form sodium carbonate, carbon dioxide, and water.

Step-by-step explanation:

Despite the information provided, sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3), also known as baking soda, is not a strong electrolyte but rather a weak one. When sodium hydrogen carbonate is put into water, it undergoes a decomposition reaction to form sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). The reaction can be represented as follows:

2 NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3 (s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)

This is a decomposition reaction, where a single compound breaks down into multiple products. The sodium hydrogen carbonate solid when placed in water will not fully dissociate into ions like a strong electrolyte such as sodium hydroxide (NaOH) would.