15 Facts on H2SO3 + Na2CO3: What, How To Balance & FAQs

Sodium carbonate and sulphurous acid are denoted by Na₂CO₃ and H₂SO₃ respectively. These inorganic compound reactions are discussed here, let us see more facts about this reaction.

H₂SO₃ is a colourless liquid acid which has a pungent strong smell. While sodium carbonate is also called washing soda, an odorless white soluble salt. It is used as a cleansing agent for domestic purposes also Na2CO3 removes the hardness of the water.

This article will discuss the reaction between H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃, the type of reaction, buffer solution, product form, enthalpy reaction and many more facts.

What is the product of H₂SO₃ and Na₂CO₃?

When sulphurous acid reacts with sodium carbonate it forms carbonic acid and sodium sulphite. The reaction is represented are as follows.

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ H₂CO₃ + Na₂SO₃

What type of reaction is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃?

This reaction is the acid-base double displacement reaction.

How to balance H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃?

The unbalanced reaction is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ H₂CO₃ + Na₂SO₃

For the reactions to be balanced the number of atoms of each element present on both the reactant and product side must be equal.

All atoms of the reactant and product are already balanced. Hence the balanced reaction is

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ H₂CO₃ + Na₂SO₃

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ titration

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is an acid-base titration. This titration is carried out as follows.

Apparatus and Chemicals Required

50 mL burette, pipette, conical flask, measuring flask, Beaker, funnel, distilled water, Sulphureous acid, sodium carbonate.

Indicator

The titration is carried out by using methyl red as an indicator. Which gives the equilibrium point between the acid and base.

Procedure

• Standard H₂SO₃ and Na₂CO₃ solutions were prepared with the same concentration.
• Then 10ml H₂SO₃ is taken in a conical flask and Na₂CO₃ solution is filled in the burette.
• Na₂CO₃ solution is added dropwise in a conical flask containing H₂SO₃ and methyl red indicator.
• Titrate till the colour changes from orange to light pink.
• When acid H₂SO₃ is neutralized with baseNa₂CO₃ it gives the endpoint indicated by colour change.
• The final reading was noted and determined the amount of Na₂O₃ required to neutralize the HCl by the M₁V₁ =M₂V₂ formula.

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ net ionic equation

• The net ionic equation of H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is as follows
• 2H⁺(aq) + SO₃^2-(aq) + 2Na⁺(aq) + CO₃^2-(aq) = 2H⁺(aq) + CO₃^2-(aq) + 2Na⁺(aq) + SO₃^2-(aq)
• The net ionic equation includes species that are involved in the reaction.

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ conjugate pairs

The conjugate pairs of H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ are as follows.

• The conjugate base of H₂SO₃ is HSO₃^–(bisulfite anion).
• The conjugate acid of CO₃^{2 –} is HCO₃^{– because} Na2CO3 is dissociates into water as Na⁺ and CO₃^2-

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ intermolecular forces

The intermolecular forces of H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ are as follows

• The H₂SO₃ shows three intermolecular forces: London – dispersion pole, dipole-dipole interaction and Van der Waals forces.
• Na₂CO₃ shows the ionic electrostatic force.

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ reaction enthalpy

The reaction enthalpy of H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is -2264.47 kJ/mol.

• The enthalpy of the formation of H₂SO₃ is -655.5 kJ/mol.
• The enthalpy of the formation of Na₂CO₃ is -1130.77 kJ/mol.
• The enthalpy of the formation of H₂CO₃ is -612.10 kJ/mol.
•  The enthalpy of the formation of Na₂SO₃ is -1090.3 kJ/mol.
• Enthalpy of reaction is (-655.5) + (-1130.77) – (-612.10) + (-1090.3) = -2264.47 kJ/mol.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ a buffer solution?

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is a buffer solution. A reaction includes both weak acid and weak base, which makes it a buffer.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ a complete reaction?

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is not a complete reaction.  H₂SO₃ is a weak acid due to this it remains in the reaction.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ an exothermic or endothermic reaction?

The H₂SO₃+ Na₂CO₃ is an exothermic reaction. The enthalpy for the reaction is negative also energy is released in the form of heat.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ a redox reaction?

The H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is not a redox reaction as the oxidation state of the atoms remains unchanged during the reaction.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ a precipitation reaction?

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is a precipitation reaction. In this reaction white crystalline precipitate of sodium, sulphite is formed which is soluble in water.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ reversible or irreversible reaction?

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is irreversible because the product form cannot reverse back to the reactant.

Is H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ displacement reaction?

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃ is a displacement reaction because it involves the exchange of cationic and anionic parts of the molecule.

Conclusion

H₂SO₃ + Na₂CO₃   is a simple acid-base displacement reaction. In this reaction, the H₂CO₃ and Na₂SO₃ salt are the product. This reaction involves dipole-dipole interaction or ion-dipole interaction. This is an irreversible reaction.   

Darshana Fendarkar

Hi….I am Darshana Fendarkar, I have completed my Ph.D. from the University of Nagpur. My area of specialization is Inorganic Chemistry.
I have an experience as a Chemist at Earthcare Pvt. Ltd. Also I have 2 years of experience in teaching. Currently, I am working with Lambdageek as a Subject Matter Expert.