Question

We wish to determine the moles of carbon dioxide produced when 50.0 mL of a 2.0 M hydrochloric acid solution reacts with an excess of sodium carbonate, as per the balanced chemical equation: 2HCl(aq)+Na₂​CO₃​(aq)→2NaCl(aq)+H₂​O(l)+CO₂​(g)? In the preceding step, it was established that 0.10 mol of HCl reacted. How many moles of carbon dioxide are produced in this reaction? Enter the moles of CO₂​.

Answer 1

Using molar stoichiometry of the balanced chemical equation, 0.10 mol of HCl produces 0.10 mol of CO₂, due to the 1:1 molar ratio between HCl and CO₂ in the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

To find the number of moles of carbon dioxide produced in the reaction of hydrochloric acid and sodium carbonate, we use the stoichiometry of the reaction.

According to the balanced chemical equation, Na₂CO₃ (aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2 NaCl (aq) + CO₂ (g) + H₂O (l), there is a 1:1 molar ratio between the acid (HCl) and the produced gas (CO₂).

Since it is given that 0.10 mol of HCl reacted, and by the molar stoichiometry of the reaction, 0.10 mol of CO₂ will therefore be produced, because for every 2 moles of HCl, 1 mole of CO₂ is produced.

Hence, the answer is 0.10 mol of CO₂.