Isocyanic acid (HNCO) can be prepared by heating sodium cyanate in the presence of solid oxalic acid according to the equation \(2 \mathrm{NaOCN}(s)+\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HNCO}(l)+\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s)\).

Short Answer

Expert verified
When sodium cyanate (\(\mathrm{NaOCN}\)) is heated in the presence of solid oxalic acid (\(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\)), they react to produce liquid isocyanic acid (\(\mathrm{HNCO}\)) and solid sodium oxalate (\(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\)), according to the balanced chemical equation: \(2 \mathrm{NaOCN}(s) + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HNCO}(l) + \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \)

Step by step solution

01

1. Identify the reactants and products

The given chemical equation is: \(2 \mathrm{NaOCN}(s) + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HNCO}(l) + \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \) Reactants: Sodium cyanate (\(\mathrm{NaOCN}\)) and oxalic acid (\(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\)) Products: Isocyanic acid (\(\mathrm{HNCO}\)) and sodium oxalate (\(\mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}\))
02

2. Balance the chemical equation

The balanced chemical equation is already provided in the exercise: \(2 \mathrm{NaOCN}(s) + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HNCO}(l) + \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \)
03

3. Understand the reaction mechanism

The given reaction takes place by heating sodium cyanate in the presence of solid oxalic acid. The heat causes sodium cyanate and oxalic acid to react, forming isocyanic acid (HNCO) and sodium oxalate. The produced isocyanic acid is in the liquid state, and sodium oxalate is a solid product. In summary, when sodium cyanate is heated in the presence of solid oxalic acid, it reacts to produce liquid isocyanic acid and solid sodium oxalate, according to the balanced chemical equation: \(2 \mathrm{NaOCN}(s) + \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{HNCO}(l) + \mathrm{Na}_{2} \mathrm{C}_{2} \mathrm{O}_{4}(s) \)

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