If sodium sulfide (Na₂S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) react in a double-replacement reaction, what product(s) form?

Question

If sodium sulfide (Na₂S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) react in a double-replacement reaction, what product(s) form??  
A. Na₂SHCl  
B. NaHCl + S  
C. NaCl + H₂S  
D. HCl + Na₂S

Accepted Answer

Correct Answer: (C)NaCl + H₂S. 
Rationale: The products of this double-replacement reaction are sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S).In a double-replacement (metathesis) reaction, the positive ions (cations) of two ionic compounds exchange partners. The general form is AB + CD → AD + CB. For the reaction between sodium sulfide (Na₂S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl), the Na⁺ and H⁺ ions exchange places. Sodium pairs with chloride to form sodium chloride, a soluble salt. Hydrogen pairs with sulfide to form hydrogen sulfide (H₂S). Hydrogen sulfide is a gas with a characteristic rotten egg odor. Its formation as a product that bubbles out of the solution is one of the driving forces that makes this reaction proceed to completion.A) Na₂SHClThis suggests the reactants simply combined into one molecule without an exchange of ions. This is not a recognized type of reaction for ionic compounds in aqueous solution and does not represent the pattern of double-replacement.B) NaHCl + SThe formula "NaHCl" does not represent a stable ionic compound. Sodium and hydrogen do not form a simple binary salt like this; hydrogen typically acts as a cation only in acids. Elemental sulfur (S) is also not a typical product. In sulfide (S²⁻) reactions, sulfur usually remains as part of an anion or forms a gaseous compound like H₂S, not elemental sulfur.C) NaCl + H₂SThis is correct. The ions exchange: Na⁺ from Na₂S combines with Cl⁻ from HCl to form NaCl. H⁺ from HCl combines with S²⁻ from Na₂S to form H₂S. The balanced molecular equation is: Na₂S(aq) + 2HCl(aq) → 2NaCl(aq) + H₂S(g).D) HCl + Na₂SThis is simply a list of the reactants, indicating no chemical reaction occurred. In a double-replacement reaction, new compounds must form as products.Conclusion:Double-replacement reactions often proceed when one of the products is a precipitate, a gas, or a molecular compound like water. The reaction between sodium sulfide and hydrochloric acid is a classic example where gas formation (H₂S) drives the reaction. The correct products are the soluble salt sodium chloride and hydrogen sulfide gas.

If sodium sulfide (Na₂S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) react in a double-replacement reaction, what product(s) form?

A
Na₂SHCl

B
NaHCl + S

C
NaCl + H₂S

D
HCl + Na₂S

The products of this double-replacement reaction are sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S).

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Related Questions

If sodium sulfide (Na₂S) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) react in a double-replacement reaction, what product(s) form?

A Na₂SHCl B NaHCl + S C NaCl + H₂S D HCl + Na₂S

The products of this double-replacement reaction are sodium chloride (NaCl) and hydrogen sulfide gas (H₂S).

Topic Flashcards

Mini Quiz

Related Questions

A
Na₂SHCl

B
NaHCl + S

C
NaCl + H₂S

D
HCl + Na₂S