Variation in Equation (1 Viewer)

[Speed6]

Fellow BOS'er Leehuan and I were discussing 2 different variations of oxalic acid titrating with sodium hydroxide.

The first equation:

(COOH)2 + 2NaOH → (COONa)2 + 2H2O

The consensus was that the first equation was wrong and that it should be (COO)2Na2.

The second equation:

(If oxalic acid is to be written as H2C2O4)

H2C2O4 + 2NaOH → Na2C2O4 + 2H2O

Even though the first equation is the most correct one, the second equation is the most preferred one.

So therefore, if anyone has a chemistry background, we would like to know which version is the best for HSC Chemistry (for a sense of security).

Sorry for no LaTeX,

Thanks

 

[KingOfActing]

I would say the bottom one is better in this context, since we actually don't care at all about the structure of the acid, just its constituents. We might as well write , since all that's important to us is the diprotic nature of the acid.

In class, we also used the bottom one in all of our class work.

 

[Speed6]

I would say the bottom one is better in this context, since we actually don't care at all about the structure of the acid, just its constituents. We might as well write , since all that's important to us is the diprotic nature of the acid.

In class, we also used the bottom one in all of our class work.

Thanks man,

This was an option I was also leaning more towards.