Answer to Question #246193 in Chemistry for leigha

Question

A 3.5

3.5 g sample of sodium hydrogen carbonate is added to a solution of acetic acid weighing 10.5

10.5 g. The two substances react, releasing carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. After the reaction, the contents of the reaction vessel weigh 12.4

12.4 g. What is the mass of carbon dioxide released during the reaction?

Answer 1

m(NaHCO₃) = 3.5 g

m(CH₃COOH) = 10.5 g

m(reaction vessel) = m(CH₃COONa + H₂O) = 12.4 g

m(CO₂) = unknown

Solution:

Balanced chemical equation:

NaHCO₃(aq) + CH₃COOH(aq) ⟶ CH₃COONa(aq) + H₂O(l) + CO₂(g)

According to the law of conservation of mass, the mass of the products in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants.

Hence,

m(NaHCO₃) + m(CH₃COOH) = m(CH₃COONa + H₂O) + m(CO₂)

m(CO₂) = 3.5 g + 10.5 g - 12.4 g = 1.6 g

m(CO₂) = 1.6 g

Answer: 1.6 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂) is released during the reaction.