Question

A student reacts a solution of vinegar (clear liquid; CH3COOH) with baking soda (white powder; NaHCO3). When the reaction is finished, there is white powder at the bottom of the reaction vessel. What is most likely the limiting reactant for this reaction, according to the equation below?CH3COOH + NaHCO3 --> NaCH3COO + H2O + CO2A.) NaHCO3 (baking soda)B.) NaCH3COO (sodium acetate)C.) CH3COOH (vinegar)D.) H2O (water)E.) CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Answer 1

According to our question, we have a white powder at the end of this reaction.

The white powder responds to the baking soda (NaHCO3)

We can exclude from our options, B, D, E because they are products, not reactants.

Thus, we have A and C.

One part of our text says: "When the reaction is finished, there is white powder at the bottom". This power is the NaHCO3, and it means that when the reaction finishes, this compound remains. Therefore is the excess.

So, our limiting reactant is C.) CH3COOH (vinegar)

Answer: C.) CH3COOH (vinegar)