Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, can be neutralized by sodium hydroxide, NaOH. The unbalanced equation is: H2SO4(aq) + NaOH(aq) → Na2SO4(aq) + H2O(l)

A student who was asked to balance the reaction wrote the following:

H2SO4(aq) + Na2OH(aq) →Na2SO4(aq) + H3O(l)

Is this correct? Explain why or why not using what you know about the law of conservation of mass and chemical changes. If necessary, provide the correct balanced equation.

Sulfuric acid, H2SO4, can be neutralized by sodium hydroxide, NaOH.

Explanation:

The balanced chemical equation of the reaction is:

A student who was asked to balance the reaction wrote the following:

H2SO4(aq) + Na2OH(aq) →Na2SO4(aq) + H3O(l)

This is wrong equation.

Because, the formula of sodium hydroxide is NaOH only and it is not .

Because the valency of sodium will not exceed one and hydroxide ion has valency is also one.

H2SO4(aq) + Na2OH(aq) →Na2SO4(aq) + H3O(l)

for this equation, the left side mass of reactants is:

161.0g

Right side mass of products is:

161.0 g

But H3O(l) will not exist and will exist.