Question

A 3.4 g sample of sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to a solution of acetic acid weighing 10.9 g. The two substances react, releasing carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. After the reaction, the contents of the reaction vessel weigh 11.6 g. What is the mass of carbon dioxide released during the reaction?

Answer 1

Answer: 2.7 grams

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of mass, mass can neither be created nor be destroyed. Thus the mass of products has to be equal to the mass of reactants. The number of atoms of each element has to be same on reactant and product side. Thus chemical equations are balanced.

$NaHCO_3(aq)+CH_3COOH(aq)\rightarrow CH_3COONa(aq)+H_2O(l)+CO_2(g)$

Given: mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate = 3.4 g

mass of acetic acid = 10.9 g

Mass of reactants = mass  of sodium hydrogen carbonate+ mass of acetic acid = 3.4 + 10.9= 14.3 g

Mass of reactants = Mass of products in reaction vessel + mass of carbon dioxide (as it escapes)

Mass of  carbon dioxide = 14.3 - 11.6 =2.7 g

Thus the mass of carbon dioxide released during the reaction is 2.7 grams.