# Charge on sodium in the following reaction

What is the charge on sodium in the following reaction, formation of 2Na^x +(CO3)^2-=Na2CO3 sodium carbonate? x=Unknown?

Choices are:
+3
+2
-2
+1
-1

HELPPP MEEE!!!

Ariel

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dextercioby
Homework Helper
Hmm, it looks to me that you have to solve a very simple equation. This is course you don't know the answer a priori...

What is the net charge in $\mbox{Na}_{2}\mbox{CO}_{3}$ ?

I have no idea!! lol thats y im asking you guyz!!!

I still dont get it .. can you tell chemistry is not my strongest subject?:uhh:

Moonbear
Staff Emeritus
Gold Member
Please note our forum guidelines require that you show your own effort on homework questions before we can help you. Since you don't sound like you even know where to start here, why don't you tell us what you do know about balancing reactions, or what the charge on ions in these equations represents. This will help us know where to start helping you, since it seems you need a bit of a review of prior material to get caught back up to the point of being able to solve this problem.

2Na^x +(CO3)^2-=Na2CO3

Ok what we know from the equation;
CO3 has a charge of 2-
Two sodium ions are required
The net overall charge of Na2CO3 is 0

Things should be clearer now

solve it algebraicly with what you have, Na2CO3 is neutral, 2Na is unknown and CO3 has charge -2 so...

2x - 2 = 0

:surprised Why don't you just give away the answer :surprised