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What is the reasoning behind the chemical formula for sodium carbonate being Na2CO3?
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Because it is a compound and all compounds must have a neutral charge. Except for ionic compounds. And CO3 has a negative 2 charge, and Na has a positive one charge, so two Na's are needed.
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Sean is correct. In addition, if you add 2atoms of hydrogen + 1 atom of oxygen, you get water.
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the formula for sodium carbonate is Na2CO3 because sodium carbonate is compose of two atoms of sodium, one atom of carbon, and three atoms of oxygen
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In the CO3 the C is +4 and the O's are -2 each (giving a total of -6).. . If the compound is going to be neutral (as all compounds are) you need two more + charges. Since each Na is 1+, it takes two of them to make the compound neutral.
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you have the correct formula. however there is also sodium bicarbonate which has a different formula that being the addition of a hydrogen atom.
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