Question

Question #c09a5

Answer 1

In 1 mole of sodium carbonate (`Na_2CO_3`) there would be 2 moles of sodium ions (#Na^+).

Sodium ions have a +1 charge (`Na^+`), and carbonate ions have a -2 charge (`CO_3^-2`) so you know that these ions must combine in a 2:1 ratio to give a compound which has no charge (electrically neutral).

Once you have determined the chemical formula, let's consider what it means.

`Na_2CO_3` = is the chemical formula for sodium carbonate

Imagine you have just one unit sodium carbonate - you would have 2 ions of Na.

If you had 10 units of `Na_2CO_3` you would have 20 sodium ions.

100 units of `Na_2CO_3` would have 200 sodium ions.

1,000,000 units of `Na_2CO_3` would have 2,000,000 sodium ions.

Now multiply by a really big number, `6.022 x 10^23`

You would have `1.2044 x 10^24` sodium ions, which is 2 moles.

The important thing is the ratio. Since the ratio is 2:1, 1 mole of `Na_2CO_3` will have 2 moles of Na.

Hope this helps!
Noel P.