Question

What happens when

(i) Potassium chloride is heated with concentrated sulphuric acid.
(ii) Potassium nitrate is heated with concentrated sulphuric acid.
(iii) Sodium carbonate is heated with dilute sulphuric acid.
(iv) Sodium bromide is heated with cone, sulphuric acid?

Answer 1

(i) Hydrogen chloride is produced.

KCl + H₂SO₄ → KHSO₄ + HCl

(ii) Sulphuric acid, being a strong acid displaces relatively weaker nitric acid from its salt.

KNO₃ + H₂SO₄ → KHSO₄ + HNO₃

(iii) It decomposes sodium carbonate to carbon dioxide and water.

(iv) It oxidises Br^– to Br₂.