[stevemont7]

Hi everybody, I have a question regarding this stoichiomentry practice problem:

Given the reaction:

2 Na + 2 H₂O  2 NaOH + H₂

What is the total number of moles of hydrogen produced when 4 moles of sodium react completely?

I set up the proportion 4/2 = x/1 and got x = 2, making my answer 2 mol.

Here's my problem: should the hydrogen in the sodium hydroxide be included? In other words, is the question ambiguous by not specifying molecules of hydrogen or should you only include the element on its own?

[Borek]

It asks specifically for hydrogen, not for "hydrogen in hydroxide or any other compound".