Question

worth 30 pts.
Liquid vinegar and solid baking soda chemically react to form solid sodium acetate, liquid water, and carbon dioxide gas.
If 30 g of vinegar were combined with 40 g of baking soda in an unsealed plastic quart bag, why would the mass of the products in the unsealed plastic quart bag total approximately 49 grams?
A. approximately 30 g of the products remained as vinegar
B. approximately 21 g of carbon dioxide escaped into the air
C. approximately 49 g of sodium acetate was created in the reaction
D. approximately 21 g of the reactants were destroyed in the reaction

Answer 1

B.21 gram of carbon dioxide escape into the air!

Answer 2

Answer: The correct answer is Option B.

Explanation:

Every balanced chemical equation follows law of conservation of mass.

This law states that mass can neither be created nor can be destroyed but it can only be transformed from one form to another form.  

This law also states that the total number of individual atoms on the reactant side must be equal to the total number of individual atoms on the product side.

The chemical equation for the reaction of acetic acid and sodium hydrogen carbonate follows:

$CH_3COOH+NaHCO_3\rightarrow CH_3COONa+H_2O+CO_2$

Let the mass of carbon dioxide be 'x' grams

We are given:

Mass of acetic acid = 30 grams

Mass of sodium hydrogen carbonate = 40 grams

Mass of sodium acetate and water = 49 grams

Total mass on reactant side = 30 + 40 = 70

Total mass on product side = 49 + x

So, by applying law of conservation of mass, we get:

$70=49+x\\\\x=(70-49)=21g$

This mass is of carbon dioxide which has been escaped into the air.

Hence, the correct answer is Option B.