What determines if in a reaction between sodium chloride and sulfuric acid you will get sodium bisulfate or sodium sulfate?

1 Answer
anor277
Jan 7, 2016

I presume you mean the reaction between sodium hydroxide and sulfuric acid.

Explanation:

If 2 equiv sodium hydroxide are used:

H_2SO_4(aq) + 2NaOH(aq) rarr Na_2SO_4(aq) + 2H_2O(l)

If 1 equiv sodium hydroxide is used:

H_2SO_4(aq) + NaOH(aq) rarr NaHSO_4(aq) + H_2O(l)

Both reactions are balanced with respect to mass and charge (and they must be). The difference is the stoichiometry. Only the 1 equiv sodium hydroxide was added in the 2nd equation, therefore, the diprotic sulfuric acid reacted to give sodium bisulfate, NaHSO_4, which is still a fairly strong acid, and only the one equiv of water. Capisce?

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