In the industrial production of washing soda, sodium hydrogencarbonate is thermally decomposed to yield sodium carbonate (Na2CO3\text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3Na2CO3) as the desired product, according to the following equation:
2NaHCO3(s)→Na2CO3(s)+H2O(g)+CO2(g) 2\text{NaHCO}_3(\text{s}) \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3(\text{s}) + \text{H}_2\text{O}(\text{g}) + \text{CO}_2(\text{g}) 2NaHCO3(s)→Na2CO3(s)+H2O(g)+CO2(g)Calculate the atom economy for the production of sodium carbonate in this reaction.
You must show your working. Give your answer to 3 significant figures. (Relative atomic masses, ArA_rAr: H=1\text{H} = 1H=1, C=12\text{C} = 12C=12, O=16\text{O} = 16O=16, Na=23\text{Na} = 23Na=23; relative formula mass, MrM_rMr: sodium carbonate = 106)
258 exam-style questions on Edexcel GCSE Chemistry Calculations involving masses. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.