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Baking Soda

When baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) is heated, one of three possible chemical reactions occurs: (I) It decomposes into sodium oxide, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. (II) It decomposes into sodium hydroxide, and carbon dioxide. (III) It decomposes into sodium carbonate, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. To determine which reaction happens, the document describes an experiment where baking soda is heated in a crucible and the mass changes are measured and used to calculate the mass of products predicted by each reaction equation. This allows identification of the correct reaction through comparison to experimental results.

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256 views2 pages

Baking Soda

When baking soda (sodium hydrogen carbonate) is heated, one of three possible chemical reactions occurs: (I) It decomposes into sodium oxide, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. (II) It decomposes into sodium hydroxide, and carbon dioxide. (III) It decomposes into sodium carbonate, water vapor, and carbon dioxide. To determine which reaction happens, the document describes an experiment where baking soda is heated in a crucible and the mass changes are measured and used to calculate the mass of products predicted by each reaction equation. This allows identification of the correct reaction through comparison to experimental results.

Uploaded by

sorennoer
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Name: ________________________________ Date: _________

Baking soda
In this practical we will examine what happens to baking soda when it is heated up. Baking
soda is a salt made of the ions Na+ and HCO3-; the salt is called sodium hydrogen carbonate.
When baking soda is heated a new compound is made while gas is given off. Below you are
given three possible ways this could take place:

(I) NaHCO3(s) → Na2O(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)

(II) NaHCO3(s) → NaOH(s) + CO2(g)

(III) NaHCO3(s) → Na2CO3(s) + H2O(g) + CO2(g)

Note that the equations are not balanced.

The experiment will show you which of the reactions the correct one is. This can be done by
comparing experimental data to theoretical calculations.

Apparatus and chemicals:


Crucible, tripod, pipe clay triangle, crucible tongs, Bunsen burner, electronic balance and
baking soda (NaHCO3).

Procedure:
Set up the apparatus with the tripod, Bunsen burner and pipe clay triangle sitting on the tripod
(see the picture next page). Place the crucible on the pipe clay triangle and heat the crucible
strongly for a few minutes.
Allow the crucible to cool down and then determine the mass of the crucible.
Weigh out 5 g baking soda (you must know the mass to 3 s.f.)
Heat up the crucible with lid for 5 minutes; then remove the lid and heat for 5-10 more
minutes.
After heating allow the crucible to cool down; then weigh the crucible and content.

All results should be recorded in the table below:

Mass of Mass of Mass of baking Mass of Mass of


crucible crucible and soda crucible and compound after
baking soda. compound after heating.
heating

Data processing:
1) Balance the three equations.

2) Calculate the molar mass of baking soda. (M)

3) Calculate the amount of baking soda used. (n)

4) Assuming that equation (I) is correct calculate the amount of Na2O formed. Then calculate
the mass of Na2O. Record the value in the table below.

5) Assuming that equation (II) is correct calculate the amount of NaOH formed. Then
calculate the mass of NaOH. Record the value in the table below.

6) Assuming that equation (III) is correct calculate the amount of Na2CO3 formed. Then
calculate the mass of Na2CO3. Record the value in the table below.

7) Use the mass of the compound formed in the experiment to determine which equation is
correct.

Mass of Na2O Mass of NaOH Mass of Na2CO3

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