This chemical reaction is a two-step reaction. What type of reaction occurs in each step? How did you determine your answer?

Question

The products of step 1 are sodium acetate and carbonic acid. Step 2, which occurs immediately after step 1, produces carbon dioxide and water.

The balanced chemical equations are:

NaHCO_3(s) + HC₂H₃O_2(aq) → C₂H₃O₂Na_(aq) + H₂CO_3(aq)

And

H₂CO_3(aq) → H₂O_(l) + CO_2(g)

Answer 1

The first reaction can be classified as a double replacement as the sodium takes the place of hydrogen, and hydrogen takes the place of sodium.

The second reaction is a decomposition as H2CO3 as it breaks down to H2O and CO2.