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Multiple Choice
Which of the following is the correct chemical formula for sodium hydrogen carbonate?
A
NaHCO_3
B
Na_2HCO_3
C
Na_2CO_3
D
NaCO_3
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that sodium hydrogen carbonate is a compound composed of sodium (Na), hydrogen (H), carbon (C), and oxygen (O) atoms arranged in a specific way.
Recognize that the bicarbonate ion, also called hydrogen carbonate, has the formula \(\mathrm{HCO_3^-}\), which includes one hydrogen atom, one carbon atom, and three oxygen atoms, carrying a negative charge.
Since sodium (Na) forms a \(\mathrm{Na^+}\) ion with a +1 charge, one sodium ion will balance the charge of one bicarbonate ion (\(\mathrm{HCO_3^-}\)) to form a neutral compound.
Combine one sodium ion (\(\mathrm{Na^+}\)) with one bicarbonate ion (\(\mathrm{HCO_3^-}\)) to get the formula \(\mathrm{NaHCO_3}\), which is sodium hydrogen carbonate.
Verify that other options either have incorrect ratios of sodium to bicarbonate or represent different compounds, such as sodium carbonate (\(\mathrm{Na_2CO_3}\)) or incorrect formulas.