How will the action of dilute hydrochloric acid enable you to distinguish between the following?

(a) Sodium carbonate and sodium sulphite

(b) Sodium thiosulphate and sodium sulphite.

(a) When Sodium carbonate is treated with dil. HCl, odourless carbon dioxide gas is produced.

Na₂CO₃ + 2HCl ⟶ 2NaCl + H₂O + CO₂ ↑

However, when sodium sulphite is treated with dil.HCl, sulphur dioxide gas with a suffocating odour (burning smell) is produced.

Na₂SO₃ + 2HCl ⟶ 2NaCl + H₂O + SO₂ ↑

(b) When sodium thiosulphate is treated with dil. HCl it produces sulphur dioxide gas and yellow sulphur precipitates.

Na₂S₂O₃ + 2HCl ⟶ 2NaCl + S + H₂O + SO₂ ↑

However, S is not produced when sodium sulphite is treated with dil.HCl.

Na₂SO₃ + 2HCl ⟶ 2NaCl + H₂O + SO₂ ↑