Solid sodium hydrogen carbonate (also known as sodium bicarbonate)can be decomposed to form solid sodium carbonate, gaseous carbon dioxide, and water vapor. When the balanced chemical reaction for this process is written such that the coefficient of water is 1, what is the coefficient of carbon dioxide?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The balanced chemical equation is:
2NaHCO₃ → Na₂CO₃ + CO₂ + H₂O
The coefficient of water is already 1, so we just need to determine the coefficient of carbon dioxide. This can be found by looking at the number of carbon dioxide molecules on each side of the equation. On the left side, there is one carbon dioxide molecule, while on the right side, there is also one carbon dioxide molecule. Therefore, the coefficient of carbon dioxide is 1.

Solid Sodium Hydrogen Carbonate (Also Known as Sodium Bicarbonate)can Be