A 3.8 g sample of sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to a solution of acetic acid weighing 10.8 g. The two substances react, rel
easing 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
The <em>total mass </em>at the beginning of the reaction is:
3.8 g + 10.8 g = 14.6 g
Following the law of conservation of mass, this same mass has to be present once the reaction is complete. This means that the mass diference between <em>the contents of the reaction vessel after the reaction and the mass at the beginning of the reaction</em> is the mass of released carbon dioxide:
