SSCE HSC Chemistry Changes to Equilibrium: The following equations describe

The following equations describe some reactions in the formation of acid rain: $$ SO_2(g) + H_2O(l) \rightleftharpoons H^+(aq) + HSO_3^-(aq) $$ $$ 2H^+(aq) + 2HSO_3^-(aq) + O_2(g) \rightleftharpoons 4H^+(aq) + SO_2^{2-}(aq) $$ What would occur if some solid sodium sulfate (Na$_2$SO$_4$) were added to a sample of acid rain? (A) The amount of $SO_2(g)$ would increase and the acidity of the solution would decrease - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 10 - 2001 - Paper 1

Question 10

$The-following-equations-describe-some-reactions-in-the-formation-of-acid-rain:--$$-SO_2(g)-+-H_2O(l)-\rightleftharpoons-H^+(aq)-+-HSO_3^-(aq)-$$--$$-2H^+(aq)-+-2HSO_3^-(aq)-+-O_2(g)-\rightleftharpoons-4H^+(aq)-+-SO_2^{2-}(aq)-$$--What-would-occur-if-some-solid-sodium-sulfate-(Na$_2$SO$_4$)-were-added-to-a-sample-of-acid-rain?--(A)-The-amount-of-$SO_2(g)$-would-increase-and-the-acidity-of-the-solution-would-decrease-HSC-SSCE Chemistry-Question 10-2001-Paper 1.png$

The following equations describe some reactions in the formation of acid rain: $$ SO_2(g) + H_2O(l) \rightleftharpoons H^+(aq) + HSO_3^-(aq) $$ $$ 2H^+(aq) + 2HSO_... show full transcript

Worked Solution & Example Answer:The following equations describe some reactions in the formation of acid rain: $$ SO_2(g) + H_2O(l) \rightleftharpoons H^+(aq) + HSO_3^-(aq) $$ $$ 2H^+(aq) + 2HSO_3^-(aq) + O_2(g) \rightleftharpoons 4H^+(aq) + SO_2^{2-}(aq) $$ What would occur if some solid sodium sulfate (Na$_2$SO$_4$) were added to a sample of acid rain? (A) The amount of $SO_2(g)$ would increase and the acidity of the solution would decrease - HSC - SSCE Chemistry - Question 10 - 2001 - Paper 1

Step 1

The amount of $SO_2(g)$ would be unchanged and the acidity of the solution would be unchanged.

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Answer

When sodium sulfate (Na $_2$ SO $_4$ ) is added to the acid rain solution, it dissociates into sodium ions (Na $^+$ ) and sulfate ions (SO $_4^{2-}$ ). Since this compound does not contribute additional $H^+$ ions or $SO_2(g)$ , the equilibrium of the existing reactions remains unchanged. The concentrations of the reactants and products in the acid rain, including $SO_2(g)$ and the acidity of the solution, will remain stable. Thus, choice (C) is the correct answer.

The amount of $SO_2(g)$ would be unchanged and the acidity of the solution would be unchanged.

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