Solid sodium hydroxide decomposes into solid sodium oxide and gaseous water. Write a balanced chemical equation for this reaction.

2 NaOH (s) → Na2O (s) + H2O (g)

Explanation:

Step 1: Data given

Solid sodium hydroxide decomposes into solid sodium oxide and gaseous water

Step 2: The balanced equation

NaOH (s) → Na2O (s) + H2O (g)

On the right side we have 2 times Na, so on the left side we have to multiply NaOH by 2. Now we have 2x Na on both sides.

2 NaOH (s) → Na2O (s) + H2O (g)

Now on both sides we have 2x Na, 2x O and 2x H

The equation is balanced.