15 Facts on H2SO3 + NH4OH: What, How To Balance & FAQs

A weak base, ammonium hydroxide(NH₄OH), reacts with a weak sulfuric acid(H₂SO₃). Let us investigate the byproducts of the reaction of NH₄OH + H₂SO₃.

NH₄OH solution have a strong, “fishy” smell. It appears colorless when it is liquid. Since H₂SO₃ is a weak acid, both of them experience a neutralization reaction at room temperature and pressure.

This article focuses on the products, balancing method, reaction enthalpy, and reversibility with some more relevant topics of the reaction between H₂SO₃ and NH₄OH in detail.

What is the product of H₂SO₃ and NH₄OH ?

Ammonium Sulfite((NH₄)₂SO₃ ) along with water are produced when NH₄OH reacts with H₂SO₃.

NH₄OH + H₂SO₃ → (NH₄)₂SO₃ + H₂O

How to balance H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH ?

The following steps need to be followed while balancing a chemical equation.

• Given below is an unbalanced chemical reaction of H₂SO₃ and NH₄OH,
  NH₄OH + H₂SO₃ → (NH₄)₂SO₃ + H₂O

• Record the moles of each element on the reactant and product sides.

• Now, the number of moles present on each side of the reactant and product must be equal in order to balance the chemical equation. In this case, the number of moles in each element is varied.
• In order to make the no. of moles equal, the water present in the product side must be multiplied by 2 and ammonium hydroxide in the reactant should also be multiplied by 2.
• Hence, the balanced chemical equation is,
  2NH₄OH + H₂SO₃ → (NH₄)₂SO₃ + 2H₂O

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH titration

The acid-base titration of H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH cannot be performed because it is the reaction between a weak acid and and a weak base. In this type of titration, the detection of the equivalence point is not possible as there is no sharp change in the titration graph of the weak acid and the weak base.

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH net ionic equation

To derive the net ionic eq for the reaction of H₂SO₄ + NH₄OH, the below given steps are followed:

• Split the strong electrolytes into ions.
  2H⁺ + SO₃^2- + NH₄⁺ + OH^– = 2NH₄⁺ + SO₃^2- + 2H⁺ + OH^–

• In this reaction strong electrolytes are H₂SO₃ , NH₄OH and (NH₄)₂SO₃ .

• Cancel the spectator ions on both sides and write down the net ionic equation.

• All of the ions will cancel out each other. So, it is a case of No Reaction.

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH conjugate pairs

The conjugate acid-base pairs of H₂SO₃+ NH₄OH are:

H₂SO₃(Conjugate base) = HSO₃^–
H₂O (Conjugate base) = OH^–

H₂SO₃ and NH₄OH intermolecular forces

• NH₄OH and H₂SO₃ are ionic compounds on the reactant side. Therefore, the Columbic attraction force is working between ammonium ion (NH⁴⁺) and oxide ion (OH^–). These two ions are attached by this electrostatic attraction force.

• H₂O is a covalent compound. Thus, dipole-dipole force and London dispersion forces are present in sulfurous acid molecules. Besides that, it can also form strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding with other H₂SO₃ molecules.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH a buffer solution ?

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH  is not a buffer solution because neither it is a mixture of a weak acid and its conjugate base nor a weak base and its conjugate acid. H₂SO₃ is a weak acid and NH₄OH acts as a weak base.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH a complete reaction ?

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH is a complete reaction since all of the reactant’s moles are completely converted and consumed by the product at equilibrium.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH an exothermic or endothermic reaction ?

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH is an exothermic reaction because the change of enthalpy is negative. In an exothermic reaction, heat is absorbed on the product side and generated on the reactant side and the amount of heat absorbed on the product side is always greater than the amount of heat generated on the reactant side.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH a redox reaction ?

H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH is not a redox reaction because in this reaction no electron transfer is taking place, and all the elements- N, H, O, and S maintain their oxidation state throughout the reaction.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH a precipitation reaction ?

The chemical reaction, H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH is not a precipitation reaction because no precipitation of any compound appears on the product side

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH reversible or irreversible reaction ?

H₂SO₃+ NH₄OH is irreversible because the products no longer undergo backward reactions to form reactants under the same condition.

Is H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH displacement reaction ?

H₂SO₃ and NH₄OH is a double displacement reaction because the sulfate ion is transferred from H₂SO₃ to (NH₄)₂SO₃ and the Hydrogen ion is transferred from H₂SO₃ to H₂O.

Conclusion

(NH₄)₂SO₃, a colorless crystalline solid that is produced as a byproduct of H₂SO₃ + NH₄OH, is also used to make other chemicals. It is sometimes even used as a preserving agent as well as decoloring agent.

Mansi Sharma

Hello, viewers I am Mansi Sharma. I’m a medicinal chemist with a postgraduate degree. I love all facets of chemistry, and I do think that it is present everywhere, so let us explore what chemistry is all about together.
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