What compound is produced from the reaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen?

What compound is produced from the reaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen?

• A. Sodium hydroxide
• B. Sodium chloride
• C. Sodium sulfate
• D. Sodium bicarbonate

Answer: (C)

The reaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen results in the formation of sodium sulfate. In this reaction, sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) reacts with oxygen (O2) to oxidize the sulfite ion (SO3^2-) to the sulfate ion (SO4^2-). The balanced chemical equation for the reaction can be represented as: \[ 2 \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_3 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 \] This illustrates that sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is produced as a product. Sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate are not formed during this reaction. Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, sodium chloride is the result of a reaction between sodium and chlorine, and sodium bicarbonate is a weak base formed primarily from the reaction of sodium carbonate and carbonic acid. Therefore, these compounds do not represent the correct outcome of the interaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen.

The reaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen results in the formation of sodium sulfate. In this reaction, sodium sulfite (Na2SO3) reacts with oxygen (O2) to oxidize the sulfite ion (SO3^2-) to the sulfate ion (SO4^2-). The balanced chemical equation for the reaction can be represented as:

[ 2 \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_3 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2 \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 ]

This illustrates that sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) is produced as a product.

Sodium hydroxide, sodium chloride, and sodium bicarbonate are not formed during this reaction. Sodium hydroxide is a strong base, sodium chloride is the result of a reaction between sodium and chlorine, and sodium bicarbonate is a weak base formed primarily from the reaction of sodium carbonate and carbonic acid. Therefore, these compounds do not represent the correct outcome of the interaction between sodium sulfite and oxygen.