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What is the balanced equation for the reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite?

There are two steps to this reaction.


Step 1: Reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite.


First, sulfuric acid (`~H_2SO_4` ) reacts with sodium sulfite (`~Na_2SO_3` ) to produce sodium sulfate (`~Na_2SO_4` ) and sulfurous acid (`~H_2SO_3` ) as follows:


   `~H_2SO_4` + `~Na_2SO_3` -> `~Na_2SO_4` + `~H_2SO_3`


This is an example of a double replacement reaction. 


Step 2: Decomposition of sulfurous acid.


Second, the sulfurous acid product (`~H_2SO_3` ) is unstable and spontaneously decomposes...

There are two steps to this reaction.


Step 1: Reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite.


First, sulfuric acid (`~H_2SO_4` ) reacts with sodium sulfite (`~Na_2SO_3` ) to produce sodium sulfate (`~Na_2SO_4` ) and sulfurous acid (`~H_2SO_3` ) as follows:


   `~H_2SO_4` + `~Na_2SO_3` -> `~Na_2SO_4` + `~H_2SO_3`


This is an example of a double replacement reaction. 


Step 2: Decomposition of sulfurous acid.


Second, the sulfurous acid product (`~H_2SO_3` ) is unstable and spontaneously decomposes into water (`~H_2O` ) and sulfur dioxide gas (`~SO_2` ) as follows:


   `~H_2SO_3` -> `~H_2O` + `~SO_2`


This is an example of a decomposition reaction.


Therefore, the overall reaction between sulfuric acid and sodium sulfite is:


   `~H_2SO_4` + `~Na_2SO_3` -> `~Na_2SO_4` + `~H_2O` + `~SO_2`


The number of each atom on both sides of the equation is the same, so the equation is already balanced. 

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