How do Barium Hydroxide and Sulfuric Acid React to Produce Water and Barium Sulfate?

The reaction between barium hydroxide (Ba(OH)₂) and sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄) results in the formation of water (H₂O) and barium sulfate (BaSO₄). To express this reaction in a balanced chemical equation, we first need to identify the reactants and products.

The unbalanced reaction is:
Ba(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ → H₂O + BaSO₄

Now, let’s balance the equation step-by-step:

• You have one barium atom from barium hydroxide and one barium atom in barium sulfate, so barium is balanced.
• There are two hydroxide ions (OH⁻) in barium hydroxide. When they react with sulfuric acid, they will produce two water molecules.
• In terms of sulfate, there is one sulfate ion (SO₄²⁻) from sulfuric acid and one from barium sulfate; this means sulfate is also balanced.
• The two hydrogens in sulfuric acid will balance with the two hydrogens from the two water molecules produced.

Thus, the balanced equation is:
Ba(OH)₂ + H₂SO₄ → 2 H₂O + BaSO₄

In conclusion, in this reaction, we successfully balanced all the atoms on both sides, confirming that the law of conservation of mass applies.