Final answer:
The question deals with a chemistry concept where 3.87 g of sodium hydrogen carbonate decomposes to yield 1.20 g of sodium carbonate, demonstrating a decomposition reaction which is foundational for high school chemistry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student's question relates to the chemical reaction known as decomposition, where sodium hydrogen carbonate (NaHCO3) breaks down into sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), carbon dioxide (CO2), and water (H2O). This reaction is a classic example of a decomposition reaction, which is one type of chemical reaction that students learn about in chemistry. The equation representing this reaction is:
2 NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
In this scenario, the student has observed that 3.87 g of NaHCO3 decomposes to yield 1.20 g of Na2CO3. To help understand this reaction, one must recognize that these reactions obey the law of conservation of mass; the mass of the reactants must equal the mass of the products in a chemical reaction.
Chemistry students must be able to recognize such reactions and predict the theoretical and actual yields, calculate mass conversions, and identify the products formed in a reaction.