I am trying to balance the equation for the reaction of sodium bicarbonate and sulfuric acid.

This is what I have gotten so far:

2 NaHCO3 + 2 H2SO4 ---> 2NaSO4 + 3 H2O + 2CO2

I am trying to figure out where I went wrong, because I have more oxygen atoms on the product side, than on the reactant side.

Original equation:

NaHCO3 + H2SO4 ---> NaSO4 + H2O + CO2

This website should help

http://richardbowles.tripod.com/chemistry/balance.htm

Your salt is wrong. I did the same thing working this problem. The sulfate ion has a 2- charge and sodium is a group one metal. Your salt should be Na2SO4.

Quote:

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NaHCO3 + H2SO4 ---> NaSO4 + H2O + CO2

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I think that's right. Yup. It's right.

H2SO4 + 2 NaHCO3 ===> Na2SO4 + 2 CO2 + 2 H2O is the correct reaction