Hello,
I’m confused on an AAMC question (Chemical and Physical Foundations of Biological Systems - Passage 3), it states that in a solution of NiSo4 is dissolved in enough water to make 50 ml of a green solution and 7 g of Na2CO3 is dissolved in enough water to make 50 ml of a colourless solution. The two solutions are mixed and a green precipitate forms. The resulting slurry is divided into two portions and one portion is added an excess of 6 M HCL, which results in the disappearance of the precipitate and a rapid evolution of a gas. To the second portion is added a few mm of 6 M NH3. The precipitate dissolves and a blue solution forms.
If red litmus paper is dipped into NA2 CO3 solution it will :
- turn blue because carbonate reacts with water to produce OH- .
However, I chose “turn blue, because sodium ions form sodium hydroxide in water” and was wondering why it was incorrect?
Thank you.