Question

read the following scenario and answer the questions below. (10 marks)

1. mercury (ii) nitrate is a pollutant that can get into the water and spread into the ecosystem. one way to remove mercury (ii) nitrate is to add sodium sulfate to produce mercury (ii) sulfate and sodium nitrate.

a) write the word equation for the chemical reaction above. (2 marks)
b) write a skeletal equation for the chemical reaction above. (4 marks)
c) balance the chemical equation above. show all of your work. (4 marks).

Explanation:

Step1: Write word equation

Mercury (II) nitrate + Sodium sulfate → Mercury (II) sulfate + Sodium nitrate

Step2: Write skeletal equation

$Hg(NO_3)_2 + Na_2SO_4
ightarrow HgSO_4+NaNO_3$

Step3: Balance the equation

1. First, balance the nitrate ions. There are 2 nitrate ions in $Hg(NO_3)_2$ and 1 in $NaNO_3$. So, put a coefficient of 2 in front of $NaNO_3$.

$Hg(NO_3)_2 + Na_2SO_4
ightarrow HgSO_4 + 2NaNO_3$

1. Check the number of each atom on both sides:

• Hg: 1 atom on both sides.
• N: 2 atoms on both sides.
• O: 6 + 4 = 10 atoms on the left - hand side and 4+6 = 10 atoms on the right - hand side.
• Na: 2 atoms on both sides.
• S: 1 atom on both sides.

The balanced equation is correct.

Answer:

A. Mercury (II) nitrate + Sodium sulfate → Mercury (II) sulfate + Sodium nitrate
B. $Hg(NO_3)_2 + Na_2SO_4
ightarrow HgSO_4+NaNO_3$
C. $Hg(NO_3)_2 + Na_2SO_4
ightarrow HgSO_4 + 2NaNO_3$