Question
Question: What are the ions given by \( N{a_2}C{O_3} \) on dissociation?...
What are the ions given by Na2CO3 on dissociation?
Solution
Dissociation is the phenomenon of breaking of a molecule which leads to the formation of ions. Sodium carbonate is a compound with a molecular formula of Na2CO3 , it dissociates into ions. There are two types of ions namely cation, a positive ion, and anion, a negative ion.
Complete Step By Step Answer:
Sodium is an element with atomic number 11 and has only one valence electron. This one electron can be easily lost and can exist as a positive ion. The positive ion is known as a cation.
Carbon and oxygen are the elements and these elements combine to form compounds or molecules known as carbonate ions. The molecular formula of carbonate ion is CO32− . Carbonate ion consists of a negative charge and is known as an anion.
Cations and anions react to form a chemical compound. The chemical compound that was formed from sodium ion and carbonate ion is sodium carbonate with a molecular formula of Na2CO3 .
Dissociation is the phenomenon of the breaking of bonds, sodium carbonate dissociate into ions as follows:
Na2CO3⇌2Na++CO32−
Thus, sodium carbonate on dissociation forms two sodium ions and one carbonate ion. Two electrons were lost by two sodium atoms and gained by the carbonate group.
Note:
While writing the molecular formula of ionic compounds, the electrons lost by cation must be equal to the electrons gained by anion. The Carbonate group can accept two electrons. Thus, two sodium atoms must be combined with one mole of carbonate group to get stability.