ok - i get what you're saying and it makes sense, however what I'm doing is a two part problem. the products from this reaction are my reactants for the next one.
and for the second equation I have 2NaC7H5O3 +H2SO4 -> 2C7H6O3 + NaSO4
so clearly I need 2 sodium salicylates in the product part of the preious section.
so do I give everything a 2:2:2:2 ratio or is there a way to incorporate that water and end up with 2 sodium salicylates.
phew. i'm not enjoying this problem.