Final answer:
The slope of a graph of the mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate vs. the mass of sulfuric acid indicates the stoichiometric relationship and rate at which the two reactants combine to produce products during the reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The slope of a graph of mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) vs. mass of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) represents the rate at which sodium hydrogen carbonate reacts with sulfuric acid to produce carbon dioxide (CO2), water (H2O), and sodium sulfate (Na2SO4). In a chemical reaction, the slope can indicate the stoichiometric relationship between the reactants. If the graph shows a linear relationship, the slope would be constant and would reflect the stoichiometric ratio between NaHCO3 and H2SO4. However, if the reaction follows an order that is not first order with respect to both reactants, the slope may change over time as one reactant is consumed more quickly than the other, leading to changes in the reaction rate. The slope of a tangent line on such a graph would provide the instantaneous rate of reaction at that particular point.