Question

What happens when a solution of sodium hydrogencarbonate is heated? Write equation of the reaction involved.

Answer 1

On heating, sodium hydrogencarbonate decomposes to form sodium carbonate. The anhydrous sodium carbonate obtained here is called soda ash.

\[\ce{\underset{Sodium hydrogencarbonate}{2NaHCO3} ->[Heat] \underset{(Soda ash)}{\underset{Sodium carbonate}{Na2CO3}} + \underset{dioxide}{\underset{Carbon}{CO2}} + \underset{Water}{H2O}}\]