NH₄Br(aq) + NaOH(aq) → NH₃(g) + H₂O(l) + NaBr(aq)
Here's a breakdown:
* Reactants:
* Ammonium bromide (NH₄Br) is a salt that dissolves in water to form ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) and bromide ions (Br⁻).
* Sodium hydroxide (NaOH) is a strong base that dissolves in water to form sodium ions (Na⁺) and hydroxide ions (OH⁻).
* Products:
* Ammonia (NH₃) is a gas that has a characteristic pungent smell.
* Water (H₂O) is a liquid formed by the reaction of hydroxide ions with ammonium ions.
* Sodium bromide (NaBr) is a salt that remains dissolved in the solution.
Explanation of the Reaction:
This is a double displacement reaction where the ammonium and sodium ions exchange places. The reaction proceeds because ammonia (NH₃) is a weak base and escapes from the solution as a gas, driving the equilibrium towards the product side.
Observations:
* Upon mixing ammonium bromide and sodium hydroxide solutions, you will observe the evolution of a pungent ammonia gas.
* The solution will also become slightly warm due to the exothermic nature of the reaction.
