When carbon dioxide is dissolved in an aqueous solution of sodium

When carbon dioxide (\( \text{CO}_2 \)) is dissolved in an aqueous solution of sodium hydroxide (\( \text{NaOH} \)), it reacts to form sodium carbonate (\( \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 \)) and water (\( \text{H}_2\text{O} \)).

### 1. Balanced Molecular Equation

To write the balanced molecular equation, we first identify the reactants and products:

\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{NaOH} (aq) \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]

### 2. Complete Ionic Equation

Next, we write the complete ionic equation. In this equation, we break all soluble strong electrolytes (like \( \text{NaOH} \) and \( \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 \)) into their respective ions:

\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{Na}^+ (aq) + 2 \text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow 2 \text{Na}^+ (aq) + \text{CO}_3^{2-} (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]

### 3. Net Ionic Equation

To get the net ionic equation, we remove the spectator ions (ions that remain unchanged on both sides). In this case, the sodium ions (\( \text{Na}^+ \)) are spectators:

\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow \text{CO}_3^{2-} (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]

### Summary

- **Balanced Molecular Equation**:
\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{NaOH} (aq) \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]

- **Complete Ionic Equation**:
\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{Na}^+ (aq) + 2 \text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow 2 \text{Na}^+ (aq) + \text{CO}_3^{2-} (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]

- **Net Ionic Equation**:
\[
\text{CO}_2 (g) + 2 \text{OH}^- (aq) \rightarrow \text{CO}_3^{2-} (aq) + \text{H}_2\text{O} (l)
\]