Here's the balanced chemical equation:
(NH₄)₂SO₄ (aq) + 2 NaOH (aq) → 2 NH₃ (g) + 2 H₂O (l) + Na₂SO₄ (aq)
Here's a breakdown of what happens:
* Ammonium ions (NH₄⁺) from ammonium sulfate react with hydroxide ions (OH⁻) from sodium hydroxide.
* This reaction produces ammonia (NH₃), which is a gas and will escape into the air.
* The other product is water (H₂O).
* The remaining ions, sodium (Na⁺) and sulfate (SO₄²⁻), combine to form sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), which stays in solution.
Key observations of this reaction:
* The reaction is exothermic, meaning it releases heat.
* You will likely smell a strong ammonia odor as the gas is released.
* If the solution is heated, the reaction will proceed faster.
This reaction is an example of how a weak base (ammonium hydroxide) reacts with a strong base (sodium hydroxide) to produce a gas.