Final answer:
The dependent variable in a chemical experiment is usually what is measured as a result of changing another variable. For instance, in an experiment testing the relationship between mass and force, mass would be the independent variable and force the dependent variable.
Step-by-step explanation:
To identify the dependent variable in an experiment, we must determine which factor is being measured as an effect of changing another factor, which is known as the independent variable. In typical experiments involving chemical reactions, such as the heating or reaction of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), common dependent variables include mass changes, volume of gas produced, and temperature changes. Without further context, it's challenging to determine the dependent variable from the options provided (mass of calcium carbonate, volume of HCI, volume of water, time).
In a similar experiment designed to test the relationship between mass and force, if you were to vary the mass to see how it affects the force, then mass would be the independent variable, and force would be the dependent variable. Controls such as keeping the acceleration constant would be necessary to ensure the validity of the results.