[Kate]

Hello.

When mixing sulfuric acid with sodium carbonate the chemical reaction is:
Na₂CO₃ + H₂SO₄ -> Na₂SO₄ + H₂O + CO₂

Is there any safety precaution one should have one when doing this reaction ? Is there a visible reaction ?

Thanks.

[azmanam]

Do you have a guess?

physical states will be helpful here.

[Kate]

I think there should be a visible reaction because one of the reaction products is CO₂(g). But I don't know if there's any safety precaution I should have when doing this reaction.

[enahs]

Any and all safety precautions when dealing with sulfuric acid.

And do not just throw in a bunch of sodium carbonate at once. If too much product is being formed, and coming out as gas, it could cause splashing. Flying sulfuric acid is never a good thing.

[azmanam]

depending on the concentration of the two reactants and the rate at which they are mixed, there may be a very vigorous reaction - and if your flask has a small neck, the 'spill' may become a 'volcano'

You usually see acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate, but the same principle applies: youtube

Oh, and always use all common safety precautions when working with chemicials in lab

[Kate]

Oh, and always use all common safety precautions when working with chemicials in lab

Apart from the safety precautions when dealing with sulfuric acid and other reactants, I should be careful in this particular reaction because of the CO₂ (g) right ?

[azmanam]

because of the CO2 (g) right ?

Yes.  That and the possible bubbling/volcano effect.

[azmanam]

What safety precautions are you going to suggest a researcher take?

Besides from personal protective equipment (goggles, etc), there are operational precautions one may take to reduce the risk of volcano - do you know what other precautions one might take?

[Arkcon]

CO2 is denser than air, and displaces it.  A bench top experiment doesn't pose a particular hazard in this regard, unless you tend to take naps on the bench top or floor.  At an industrial scale, large amounts of accumulated CO2 can be dangerous -- from what I've heard, at least once a year someone, somewhere in the world, working at winery or brewery becomes overcome, falls into a vat, and drowns.

[Kate]

Besides from personal protective equipment (goggles, etc), there are operational precautions one may take to reduce the risk of volcano - do you know what other precautions one might take?

No, I don't. But I'd very much like to know.

[azmanam]

depending on the concentration of the two reactants and the rate at which they are mixed, there may be a very vigorous reaction

How might knowing this help you devise some safety precautions to avoid eruption?  Temperature control can also help, but probably not much on a small scale

[Kate]

Well, in order to avoid eruption the concentration of the reactants should be low and while doing the reaction I should slowly add one of the reactants to the other.

[azmanam]

Yup.  Keep it cold and you're all set for a boring, non-volcano