Those who are fond of chemistry or work in the chemical industry know how dangerous sulfuric acid is. When working with this type of poison, special protective equipment is required. In the composition with other elements, the action can either increase or decrease, as, for example, in the case of the interaction of sulfuric acid and sodium carbonate.
Sulfuric acid
Any acid is always a complex combination of elements of several types of substances. Sulfuric acid is two hydrogen atoms and an acidic substance. Its formula is H2SO4. In its pure form, sulfuric acid is a liquid, heavy and viscous, resembling oil, with a sour smell. Sulfuric acid interacts well with metals and water, is a strong oxidizing agent for almost all metals, except for gold, iron and aluminum. That is why industrial sulfuric acid is transported in steel barrels or tanks. Acid forms medium and acid s alts.
Interaction with sodium carbonate
Chemical reaction of sodium carbonatewith sulfuric acid is always predictable. When interacting:
- A precipitate falls out.
- Color changes.
- Gas is released.
- Light comes out.
The chemical formula of the reaction looks like Na2CO3 + H2SO4 → Na2SO4 + CO2 + H2O. As a result, sodium sulfate and carbonic acid are formed, and carbonic acid decomposes by mutual substitution into water and carbon dioxide.
Recall that sodium carbonate is a white powdery substance, popularly known as soda ash, which can be technical and food. By itself, this substance is harmless and is used even in cooking and baking. However, interaction with sulfuric acid turns sodium carbonate into one of the strongest poisons, which are used in non-ferrous and ferrous metallurgy, in textile production, in the oil and gas industry and in the chemical industry.
In the school curriculum, the description of these chemical compounds can be found in the textbooks of the eighth and ninth grades.
