Question

The balanced chemical equation for the reaction of an alkaline solution of sodium nitrate with zinc is:
A.${\text{Zn}} + {\text{NaN}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{NaOH}} \to {\text{ZnOH}} + {\text{NaOH}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}}$
B.${\text{Zn}} + {\text{NaN}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{NaOH}} \to {\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{Zn}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_4}{\text{OH}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}}$
C.$3{\text{Zn}} + {\text{NaN}}{{\text{O}}_2} + 5{\text{NaOH}} \to 3{\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{Zn}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3} + {{\text{H}}_2}O$
D.${\text{Zn}} + {{\text{N}}_{\text{a}}}{\text{N}}{{\text{O}}_2} + 4{\text{NaOH}} \to {\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{Zn}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_4}{\text{OH}} + {{\text{H}}_2}{{\text{O}}_2}$

Answer 1

Hint: The chemical compound sodium nitrate has the formula\[NaN{O_3}\]. To differentiate it from ordinary saltpetre, potassium nitrate, this alkali metal nitrate salt is also known as Chile saltpetre. Nitratine, nitratite, and soda niter are also names for the mineral type.

Complete answer: On the reactant and product sides of a balanced chemical equation, there are equivalent numbers of atoms for each element involved in the reaction. This is a condition that the equation must meet in order to be consistent with the conservation of matter law. It can be checked by adding the numbers of atoms to both sides of the arrow and comparing them to ensure that they are identical. Note that the number of atoms in any formula containing the element is determined by multiplying the coefficient by the element's subscript in the formula.
The law of conservation of mass governs all chemical equations, stating that matter cannot be created or destroyed. A chemical equation is balanced because there are an equal number of atoms of the same compound on both sides.
When a sodium nitrate aqueous solution is heated with zinc, sodium zincate and ammonia are formed.
For the following reaction, the equilibrium chemical equation is:
${\text{NaN}}{{\text{O}}_2} + 3{\text{Zn}} + 5{\text{NaOH}} \to 3\;{\text{N}}{{\text{a}}_2}{\text{Zn}}{{\text{O}}_2} + {{\text{H}}_2}{\text{O}} + {\text{N}}{{\text{H}}_3}$

Note:
The Law of Conservation of Mass was established in 1789 when Antoine Lavoisier discovered that mass is neither produced nor lost in chemical reactions. In other words, the mass of any one element at the start of a reaction would be the same as the mass of that element at the end. In any closed structure, the overall mass would be the same at any point in time as all reactants and products are accounted for. Lavoisier's discovery revolutionised science and set the groundwork for modern chemistry.