Final answer:
The correct coefficients to balance the given chemical equation Na₂CO₃ + Ca(C₄H₄O₄)₂ → CaCO₃ + NaC₂H₄O₂ are 1, 1, 1, 2, which corresponds to option D. The balanced chemical equation is Na₂CO₃ + Ca(C₄H₄O₄)₂ → CaCO₃ + 2 NaC₂H₄O₂.
Step-by-step explanation:
The given chemical equation is Na₂CO₃ + Ca(C₄H₄O₄)₂ → CaCO₃ + NaC₂H₄O₂. When balancing, we should ensure there are equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. Starting with calcium, there is one calcium atom on each side. The carbon atoms are also balanced, with one carbon atom on each side. However, looking at sodium, we need two sodium atoms on the product side to balance the two sodium atoms on the reactant side. This means that we need two NaC₂H₄O₂ molecules. Finally, for the tartarate ions, we have two on the reactant side, so everything else should now be balanced if we have two molecules of sodium acetate on the product side.
The correct set of coefficients to balance the equation is 1, 1, 1, 2 which corresponds to option D. Thus, the balanced chemical equation is Na₂CO₃ + Ca(C₄H₄O₄)₂ → CaCO₃ + 2 NaC₂H₄O₂.