Question

What will happen if a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated? Give the equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

Sodium hydrogen carbonate is commonly known as bicarbonate of soda or baking soda. The chemical formula of sodium hydrogencarbonate is $NaHC{O_3}.$ When a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated, a decomposition reaction takes place. In a decomposition reaction, a compound in the presence of heat or electricity breaks down into new simpler chemical compounds.

Complete answer:
We know that decomposition reaction is a reaction in which a single compound is heated or subjected to electricity, it gets broken down or decomposed into new simpler chemical compounds.
Sodium hydrogencarbonate is commonly known as bicarbonate of soda or baking soda. The chemical formula of sodium hydrogencarbonate is $NaHC{O_3}.$ So, when a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated, it gets decomposed into simpler chemical compounds like sodium carbonate, water and carbon dioxide.
Molecular formula of sodium carbonate is $N{a_2}C{O_3}$ and that of carbon dioxide is $C{O_2}.$
Now, the equation for the reaction involved is given as follows:
$NaHC{O_3} + Heat \to N{a_2}C{O_3} + C{O_2} + {H_2}O$
This reaction generally takes place when sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated above sixty degree Celsius temperature conditions.

Note:
Sodium hydrogencarbonate is also known as Sodium bicarbonate and as the name suggests it is a sodium salt. It exists as a white solid which is crystalline in nature. It has alkaline taste and properties just like washing soda which is also known as sodium carbonate. It is used in baking as an agent known as leavening agent. It is also a mild disinfectant and used in fire extinguishers too.