Consider the following equilibrium reaction: NaHCO3(s) Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g) When 100 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate are added to a reaction vessel, the temperature is increased to 200°C, and the system comes to equilibrium. What happens to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in this system if 50 g of sodium carbonate are added?

Question

Consider the following equilibrium reaction: NaHCO3(s)  Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g) When 100 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate are added to a reaction vessel, the temperature is increased to 200°C, and the system comes to equilibrium. What happens to the partial pressure of carbon dioxide in this system if 50 g of sodium carbonate are added?

DrBob222 · Answer

I don't think anything will happen, disregarding the volume taken up by the additional 50 g. Remember that solids don't enter into the equilibrium constant as long as there is SOME of the solid present. Adding more NaHCO3 or more Na2CO3 won't change the equilibrium.