NaHCO3 Lewis Structure& Characteristics: 15 Complete Facts

Baking soda is another name for sodium hydrogen carbonate, often known as bicarbonate of soda. Let us study about NaHCO3 and it’s complete facts.

NaHCO3 or sodium bicarbonate is a white crystalline solid with molecular mass 84.006g/mol. It is an odorless substance with salty like nature. It is made up of a sodium cation and an anion of bicarbonate.

NaHCO3 is used as baking agent in cakes, pyrotechnics, antacids and as fire extinguishers. Let us know about NaHCO3 Lewis structure, hybridization and other details in the following sections.

How to Draw NaHCO3 Lewis Structure?

Lewis structure is the simplest representation of a molecule’s geometry. Let us look into steps for drawing NaHCO3 Lewis structure.

Count the total valence electrons

The total number of valence electrons in the molecule must be determined in this phase. Carbon has four, oxygen has six, hydrogen has one, and sodium has one electron. So in total 1+4+1+6×3=24 electrons.

Drawing a skeletal structure

Being the least electronegative element in this system, carbon serves as the main atom. Write carbon surrounded with two oxygen atom and one hydroxyl group. Make a single bonds with each of them.

Distribution of electrons

After making bonds the left over electron is 16. Distribute this electrons to all the atoms by obeying it’s octet rule. All atoms except carbon’s valency is satisfied now.

Making bonds in between atoms

Since the valency of all atoms except carbon is satisfied. So one of the oxygen donates its electron pair to carbon to make its valency satisfied. So there made a double bond in between carbon and oxygen. The sodium cation gets attached with the bicarbonate anion to form the entire Lewis structure of NaHCO3.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Resonance

Resonance can result more than one structure to a molecule . Let us see whether NaHCO3 has resonance or not.

NaHCO3 undergoes Resonance and it has two Resonance structure. Resonance is due to the bicarbonate ion present here. The oxygen atom in the bicarbonate ion involves in resonance to give one additional structure to NaHCO3. The resonance structure of NaHCO3 is.

Picsart 22 08 19 16 23 16 328 1 1 — **Resonance of NaHCO3**

NaHCO3 Lewis structure Shape

The shape of the molecule indicates the most stable position of the atoms present in it. Let us look into the shape of NaHCO3.

The shape of NaHCO3 Lewis structure is triagonal planar. In this structure the two oxygen atoms and one hydroxyl group is attached into the central carbon at the corners of an equilateral triangle. All the atoms present here lies in a single plane. The crystal structure of NaHCO3 is monoclinic.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Formal Charge

A hypothetical charge given to each atom in a molecule is known as the formal charge. Let’s research NaHCO3’s formal charge.

The Lewis structure of NaHCO3 has no formal charge. Here there is total three oxygen, one carbon , hydrogen and sodium is present. All the atoms has zero formal charge. So NaHCO3 is stable.

The formal charge finding equation is

Formal charge= valence electrons – lone pair of electrons – No. Of bonds
The formal charge of all oxygen atoms = 6-4-2=0
The formal charge of carbon= 4-0-4=0
The formal charge of hydrogen = 1-0-1=0
The formal charge of sodium=1-0-1=0

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Bond Angle

The angle formed by the atoms in a molecule is known as the bond angle. Let us look into the bond angle of NaHCO3 Lewis structure.

The bond angle of NaHCO3 is 120⁰. The shape of NaHCO3 is triagonal planar where all the atoms are attached to the central metal through the corners of equilateral triangle. The hybridization in NaHCO3 also confirms triagonal planar shape to the molecule.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Octet Rule

Octet rule is mainly obeyed by main group element in the periodic table. Let us know do NaHCO3 obeys octet or not.

NaHCO3 Lewis structure obeys octet rule. In NaHCO3 all the atoms except hydrogen obeys octet. To complete its octet, sodium removes one of its electrons.

Similar to carbon, after establishing bonds, oxygen has eight electrons in its valence shell. Hydrogen need only two electrons to be in a stable state and is satisfied through bond formation.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Lone Pairs

Lone pair of electrons are not involved in the creation of bonds. Let us know about the lone pairs in NaHCO3 Lewis structure.

NaHCO3 Lewis structure has seven lone pairs in total. All the lone pairs are associated with oxygen atom. One oxygen atom possesses three lone pairs, while two oxygen atoms have two each. There are therefore 7 lone pairs and 14 electrons overall.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Valence Electrons

Valence electrons are the ones visible in the outermost shell. Let us see the number of valence electrons in NaHCO3 Lewis structure.

NaHCO3 Lewis structure has 24 valence electrons. Sodium and hydrogen with one electron, carbon with four and oxygen with six. So total 1+1+4+6×3=24 electrons.

NaHCO3 Lewis Structure Hybridization

New sets of orbitals with the same energy are created as a result of hybridization.Let us know about the hybridization in NaHCO3 Lewis structure.

NaHCO3 Lewis structure undergoes sp2 hybridization. Actually the bicarbonate ion follows sp2 hybridization. The central carbon is sp2 hybridized. One of the s and two p orbitals of the carbon overlap with the orbitals of oxygen to form three single bonds.

Then the unhybridised orbital in one of the oxygen overlaps sidewise with carbon to form a pi bond.

Is NaHCO3 is Solid?

Solids are a state of matter with rigid shape. Let us see is NaHCO3 is solid or not.

NaHCO3 is a solid substance which is white color. All the particles are joined tightly in a regular manner without space in NaHCO3.

Why and How NaHCO3 is a Solid?

NaHCO3 is a solid because it is formed as a result of attraction between positive sodium and negative bicarbonate ion. Due to this their bond is very strong and has a high boiling and melting point. So they have all the characteristics of solid.

Is NaHCO3 Soluble in Water?

The interaction of the solute and solvent determines solubility. Let us know about the solubility of NaHCO3.

NaHCO3 is soluble in water. It gets easily dissolved in water to produce sodium hydroxide and carbonic acid. It is slightly soluble in methanol and acetone and not in ethanol.

Why and How NaHCO3 is Soluble in Water?

NaHCO3 is soluble in water because both of these substances are polar,. The sodium cation and the bicarbonate anion combine to generate the ionic composition NaHCO3. Similarly water also has a proton and hydroxyl anion. So they are compounds in same state hence gets easily miscible to each other.

Is NaHCO3 a Molecular Compound?

Molecular or covalent compound is made by common sharing of electrons. Let us look whether NaHCO3 is molecular or not.

NaHCO3 is an ionic substance instead of being a molecular substance. Here the bicarbonate and sodium ions are charged.

Why and How NaHCO3 is Ionic?

NaHCO3 is a molecular compound because in NaHCO3 the bicarbonate ion has negative charge and sodium with positive charge. So the opposite charges get attracted each other like ionic compounds do. They have all the Characteristics of ionic bond.

Is NaHCO3 an Acid or Base?

Acidity and basicity can be known by measuring the pH of the solution. Let us see whether NaHCO3 is acid or base.

NaHCO3 is a weak base. It’s pH is slightly above 7 in water. So not a strong base. But when adding a strong base into NaHCO3 then it starts donating protons like acid. Then acts as an acid. So it can act either acid or base depending upon the condition but generally it is considered as a base.

Why and How NaHCO3 is a Base?

Basic substance gives hydroxyl ions into the solution. Let us discuss about the basic nature of NaHCO3.

NaHCO3 is basic because when dissolved in water it gets dissociated to form the ions. The bicarbonate ion formed can easily furnish OH ions into the solution. So it can acts as a base.

Is NaHCO3 an Electrolyte?

Electrolytes can be strong bases, strong acids and salts. Let us see whether NaHCO3 is an electrolyte or not.

NaHCO3 is an electrolyte. NaHCO3 is found to be a weak electrolyte in nature because it gets only partially dissociated.

Why and How NaHCO3 is an Electrolyte?

NaHCO3 is an electrolyte because it gets dissociated in water and hence conducts electricity like an electrolyte do.When melted or dissolved in water, electrolytes can carry electricity. However, they are unable to entirely separate. So the electrolytic power is low.

What Are the Similarities and Differences Between the Lewis Structures and Characteristics of NaNO3 and NaHCO3?

The nano3 lewis structure and characteristics of NaNO3 and NaHCO3 exhibit both similarities and differences. Both compounds contain sodium (Na) atoms, but NaNO3 consists of a nitrate ion (NO3-) and NaHCO3 contains a bicarbonate ion (HCO3-). In terms of Lewis structures, NaNO3 has three single bonds and one double bond, while NaHCO3 has one single bond and two double bonds, resulting in different overall structures and arrangements of atoms.

Is NaHCO3 is a Salt?

Salt is a neutral substance. Let us see whether NaHCO3 is a salt or not.

NaHCO3 is a salt. The neutralization reaction between NaOH and H2CO3 causes it to form. A strong base and weak acid combined together to make a salt here along with water.

Why and How NaHCO3 is a Salt?

NaHCO3 is a salt because it is a resultant product of neutralization reaction.Salt and water are created when an acid and a base react. Salt with a strong base and weak acid is called a basic salt. Since a strong base like NaOH and weak acid like H2CO3 combines to form NaHCO3. So it’s a basic salt.

Is NaHCO3 is Polar or Non Polar?

Polar molecules are asymmetric in shape. Let us see whether NaHCO3 is polar or not.

NaHCO3 is a polar compound. NaHCO3 is an ionic compound. All the ionic compounds are polar in nature. The dipole moment of NaHCO3 is 7 Debye.

Why and How NaHCO3 is Polar?

One of the factors used to determine a compound’s polarity is the difference in electronegativity. Let us explore it below.

NaHCO3 is a polar compound because it dissociates into sodium and bicarbonate ions in water. There is huge electronegativity difference in between the atoms involved here. So it is a polar molecule. Also the orientation of atoms is not at all symmetrical manner.

Conclusion

NaHCO3 is a chemical substance which has some distinct properties. The bicarbonate ions present in it gives off carbon dioxide which gives fluffy nature to cakes.

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Aparna Dev

Hi… I am Aparna Dev, a chemistry Postgraduate with a good understanding of chemistry concepts. I am working in Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited Kollam with experience in the development of electrocatalysts as a part of post graduate thesis.
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