Question

In an experiment, a student adds baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) to vinegar (acetic acid) and observes that a large amount of gaseous carbon dioxide is released.

What is the scientific reason for this change?
A. Baking soda chemically changes when added to vinegar.
B. Bake soda evaporates when added to vinegar. C. Baking soda condenses when added to vinegar.
D. Baking soda's atoms are destroyed when added to vinegar. ​

Answer 1

When baking soda is added to vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs. The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the baking soda to release carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate. The pH of the solution decreases after mixing, moving closer to neutral on the pH scale.

Step-by-step explanation:

When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is added to vinegar (acetic acid), a chemical reaction occurs. The acetic acid in vinegar reacts with the sodium bicarbonate to form carbon dioxide gas, water, and a salt called sodium acetate. This reaction is known as an acid-base reaction, specifically a neutralization reaction, where the acid and base react to produce a salt and water.

The chemical equation for this reaction is:

CH3COOH (acetic acid) + NaHCO3 (sodium bicarbonate) → CO2 (carbon dioxide) + H2O (water) + CH3COONa (sodium acetate)

After mixing vinegar and baking soda, the pH of the solution decreases. Vinegar is an acid, while baking soda is a base. When the acid and base react, they neutralize each other, resulting in a solution that is closer to neutral on the pH scale.