In: Chemistry
There are two unmarked cups named M and N. Each cup has 5 mL of a white powder. One contains baking soda, the other washing soda. There is also 50 mL of a monoprotic acid and water. Determine which substance is baking soda and which is washing soda.
How would I determine this?
Baking Soda (NaHCO3) is mild basic(as it has one replaceable H+ ion) in nature(Approx PH=8) while washing soda(Na2CO3) is strong basic in nature (Approx pH=11) so, if we had two cups one with baking soda and other with washing soda and we have to differentiate them using water(H2O) and Monoprotic Acid(which provides single H+ ion), we can just pour some amount of water in both cups. the cup having baking soda will complete dissolving in water while another one with washing soda will slowly dissolve in water or form paste like the product. another option is that by using monoprotic acid, by adding monoprotic acid in baking soda will form some salt and carbonic acid which will further break into carbon dioxide(you can observe by performing some simple test ) and water, while another one will form salt and water. in this way, we can differentiate Washing soda and Baking soda.