A white solid is either `Na_(2)O` or `Na_(2)O_(2)`. A piece of red litmus paper turns white when it is dipped into a freshly made aqueous solution of the white solid.
a. Identify the substance and explain the balanced equation.
b. Explain what would happen to the red litmus if the white solid were the other compound.
a. Identify the substance and explain the balanced equation.
b. Explain what would happen to the red litmus if the white solid were the other compound.
a. `Na_(2)O_(2)+2H_(2)O rarr 2NaOH+H_(2)O_(2)`
`H_(2)O_(2)rarr H_(2)O+[O]`
`H_(2)O_(2)` turns the colour of red litmus paper to white edue to its bleaching action by oxidation. Therefore, the given substance is `Na_(2)O_(2)`,
b. `Na_(2)O+H_(2)O rarr 2NaOH`
If the given substance was `Na_(2)O_92)` it would form only `NaOH`, which turns the colour of red litmus paper to blue.