Question

Complete and write a balanced equation for the following
$CuS{O_4} + N{a_2}C{O_3} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{}}$ …… $+ N{a_2}S{O_4} +$ ……

Answer 1

We are given a reaction of copper sulphate with sodium carbonate and water. This reacting forms carbon dioxide, sodium sulphate, and copper carbonate hydroxide as products. In a balanced chemical equation, the total mass on both reactant and product sides is equal, thus following the law of conservation of mass. In a balanced chemical equation, the atoms of all elements are equal on the reactant and product sides.

Complete step-by-step answer:
Balancing an equation is an important step in chemistry. A chemical equation must be balanced because according to the law of conservation of mass, mass can neither be created nor destroyed. There should be no change in mass when reactants change into products. Also, a balanced equation tells us how much product we can expect from a given amount of reactant. There are certain steps we should follow while balancing a chemical equation
$\left( 1 \right)$ The unbalanced chemical equation must be written from the chemical formula of reactants and products. Here the unbalanced equation is given, we are supposed to complete and balance the equation.

$CuS{O_4} + N{a_2}C{O_3} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{}}$ …… $+ N{a_2}S{O_4} +$ ……

Now, let us first complete the equation. Here copper sulphate will react with sodium carbonate and water to give carbon dioxide, sodium sulphate, and copper carbonate hydroxide.

$CuS{O_4} + N{a_2}C{O_3} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{}}C{O_2} + N{a_2}S{O_4} + C{u_2}{(OH)_2}C{O_3}$
$\left( 2 \right)$ Now we will compare the atoms of each element on the reactant and product side. For example on the reactant side, there is one atom of $Cu$ and on the product side there are two atoms of $Cu$.

$\left( 3 \right)$ We know that a stoichiometric coefficient describes the total number of molecules of a chemical species that participate in a chemical reaction. Now, stoichiometric coefficients are added to molecules containing an element that has a different number of atoms on the reactant side and the product side. The coefficient must balance the number of atoms on each side. For example, we assign a stoichiometric coefficient $2$ to $CuS{O_4}$ because there are $2$ atoms of $Cu$ on the product side. Now the number of atoms of $Cu$ is balanced. When we write 2 as a stoichiometric coefficient of $CuS{O_4}$ , we get $2$ atoms of $S$ on the reactant side, so we assign $2$ to $N{a_2}S{O_4}$ .
$\left( 4 \right)$ The above step continues till all the atoms of all the elements on the reactant and product side become equal. Thus the balanced equation is given as below:
$2CuS{O_4} + 2N{a_2}C{O_3} + {H_2}O\xrightarrow{{}}C{O_2} + 2N{a_2}S{O_4} + C{u_2}{(OH)_2}C{O_3}$

Note: It is important to note that the number of atoms of any element present in a molecule is obtained by multiplying the stoichiometric coefficient with the total number of atoms of that element present in that molecule. While balancing the equation stoichiometric coefficients to $H$ and $O$ atoms are assigned last.