5. How many moles of sodium are needed to react with sulfuric acid to prod sodium suffate according to the following (unbalanced) reaction: underline ( )Na+underline ( )H_(2)(SO_(4))arrow underline ( )Na_(2)(SO_(4))+underline ( )

To determine the number of moles of sodium (Na) needed to react with sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) to produce sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), we first need to balance the chemical equation.<br /><br />The unbalanced reaction is:<br />\[ \underline{\quad} \text{Na} + \underline{\quad} \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \underline{\quad} \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 + \underline{\quad} \]<br /><br />To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.<br /><br />1. Start with sodium (Na):<br /> - There are 2 sodium atoms in Na₂SO₄ on the product side.<br /> - Therefore, we need 2 sodium atoms on the reactant side.<br /><br />2. Balance sulfur (S):<br /> - There is 1 sulfur atom in H₂SO₄ on the reactant side.<br /> - There is 1 sulfur atom in Na₂SO₄ on the product side.<br /> - Sulfur is already balanced.<br /><br />3. Balance hydrogen (H):<br /> - There are 2 hydrogen atoms in H₂SO₄ on the reactant side.<br /> - There are 2 hydrogen atoms in 2 H₂O on the product side.<br /> - Hydrogen is already balanced.<br /><br />The balanced equation is:<br />\[ 2 \text{Na} + \text{H}_2\text{SO}_4 \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{SO}_4 + 2 \text{H}_2\text{O} \]<br /><br />From the balanced equation, we see that 2 moles of sodium (Na) are required to react with 1 mole of sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) to produce 1 mole of sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄).<br /><br />Therefore, the number of moles of sodium needed is 2 moles.