Sodium hydrogencarbonate is manufactured by the Solvay Process. This consists of

Question

Sodium hydrogencarbonate is manufactured by the Solvay Process. This consists of four steps: (i) Calcium carbonate is heated until it changes into calcium oxide and carbon dioxide. (ii) Calcium oxide reacts with ammonium chloride forming calcium chloride, ammonia and water. (iii) Ammonia, water and carbon dioxide combine to produce ammonium hydrogencarbonate. (iv) Ammonium hydrogencarbonate and sodium chloride react together to form sodium hydrogencarbonate and ammonium chloride. (a) Write a balanced chemical equation for each step (i) to (iv). b) Calculate the maximum mass of sodium hydrogencarbonate which could be produced from 50.0 kg of calcium carbonate. Two glass flasks have volumes and temperature as shown.

Explanation / Answer

The reaction sequences will be

(i) CaCO3 --> CO2 + CaO

one mole of CaCO3 will give one mole of CO2 and one mole of CaO

(ii) reaction of CaO with ammonium chloride

CaO + 2NH4Cl --> CaCl2 + 2NH3 + H2O

one mole of CaO (obtained from one mole of CaCO3) will react with two moles of NH4Cl to give two moles of NH3 and one mole of each H2O and CaCl2

(iii) combination of ammonia , carbon dixode and water

NH3 + CO2 + H2O --> NH4HCO3

one mole of NH3 will raect with one mole of CO2 (obtained from one mole of CaCO3) to form one mole of NH4HCO3

(iv) reaction of ammonium hydrogen carbonate with NaCl

NH4HCO3 + NaCl --> NaHCO3 + NH4Cl

So for one mole of NaHCO3 we will need one mole of NH4HCO3

one mole  NH4HCO3 can obtained from one mole NH3, CO2 and water

one mole of CO2 and CaO will be obtained from one mole of CaCO3

So for one mole of NaHCO3 we need one mole of CaCO3

the molecular weight of CaCO3 = 100g /mole

molecular weight of NaHCO3 = 84g / mole

So from 100g of CaCO3 = 84g of NaHCO3 will be obtained

hence from 50 grams of CaCO3 = 84/2grams = 42 grams of NaHCO3 will be obtained

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