ABSTRACT

Thermal decomposition, or thermolysis, is a chemical decomposition caused by

heat. The decomposition temperature of a substance is the temperature at which the
substance chemically decomposes. The purpose of this experiment to quantify the
chemical components in sodium bicarbonate upon decomposition using heat and to
determine the decomposition reaction. The mass for sodium bicarbonate at
temperature of 200°C came that the with average of 18.5g from trial 1 and trial 2
which is we get from 18g and 19g. While for the mass at a temperature of 100°C we
find from the mass from trial 1 and trial 2 is 17g and 19g with average 18g. The
values weighed for two different temperatures are not the same where at a
temperature of 200°C we find the average mass of sodium x is 12g from 11g from
trial 1 and 13g from trial 2. Meanwhile, for temperature of 100°C the average is 16.5g
from 18g and 15g from trial 1 and trial 2. After calculating we have obtained
theoretical values for NaOH, Na2O and Na2CO3 for temperatures 200°C is 8.8095g
NaOH, 6.8274g Na2O and 11.6726g Na2CO3. As for the temperature of 100°C, we
got 8.5714g NaOH, 6.6429g Na2O and 11.3571g Na2CO3. After finding the
theoretical value, the value is used to find the yield percent to determine the correct
decomposition where the value is 192.50% NaOH, 248.38% Na 2O and 145.05%
Na2CO3 for temperature 100°C and 136.22% NaOH, 175.76% Na 2O and for Na2CO3
is 102.80% at temperature 200°C. So, we can conclude that 3 rd reaction is the
correct decomposition.

INTRODUCTION

Stoichiometry is the most important and fundamental topic in chemistry and the
essence of chemical engineering. It is used in the industry to determine the amounts
of materials that are required and estimate the amount of product obtained from a
given reaction and aid in deciding profitability. Stoichiometry is based on the law of
conservation of mass which states that the total mass of a reactant is equal to the
total mass of the products, where the relationships among quantities of reactant and
products typically form a ratio. Stoichiometry of a reaction is calculated from the
moles and mole ratio of substances of a balanced chemical equation which is then
converted to the desired unit of substance required.[ CITATION Rea \l 1033 ]

AIMS

(a) To quantify the chemical components in sodium bicarbonate upon decomposition

using heat.
(b) To determine the decomposition reaction.

THEORY

Due to the widespread use of sodium bicarbonate which commonly called as

baking soda which using in many food products, the thermal decomposition reaction
has been discovered extensively by food chemists. Sodium bicarbonate is used to
prepare cakes to ensure that cakes “rise” as they bake. As the temperature of the
cake batter reaches approximately 50 °C, the baking soda decompose and carbon
dioxide is released. The use of baking soda is especially popular in pancakes and
waffles since the high cooking temperatures of 175–230 °C cause the carbon dioxide
to be liberated before the dough has set. Thus, the batter rises before it sets, and we
get a light and tasty finished product. There are three possible chemical reactions
that could be occurring during the baking process. All three of these reactions shown
below are theoretically possible, yet only one reaction might actually occurs.
[ CITATION Fli17 \l 1033 ][ CITATION Dec \l 1033 ]

Possible Decomposition Reactions:

1. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium hydroxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g)

2. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium oxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)

3. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium carbonate (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)

MATERIAL AND APPARATUS

1. Balance Pan
2. Weighing dish
3. Crucible
4. Ring stand with circular
5. Ring support
6. Spatula
7. Clay Triangle
8. Spoon
9. Oven
10. Baking soda

PROCEDURE

1. Students required to record all necessary masses throughout the experiment.

2. The empty crucible was placing on the balance pan and then press the
tare/reset button. the mass of the empty crucible was recording.
3. Measured some baking soda between 3-6 grams into the crucible. Recorded
the mass.
4. Placed the crucible containing the baking soda in the oven with
temperature100°C
5. The crucible and its contents in the oven was heated up for 15 minutes. Used
a spatula to carefully break up any “clumps” that form during heating process.
Clumps need to be broken only once during heating process.
6. Measured the mass the crucible and its contents. The mass of the product
was reported.
7. Repeat the procedure 2-6 with temperature 200°C and wrote data in the table.
RESULT

Before heat decomposition (200°C)

Trial 1 Trial 2

Container 548g 550g

Container with sodium 566g 569g

bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate 18g 19g

After heat decomposition (200°C)

Trial 1 Trial 2

Container with sodium X 559g 563g

Sodium X 11g 13g

Average Sodium bicarbonate = 18+19/2=18.5g

Average Sodium X = 13+11/2=12g

Before heat decomposition (100°C)

Trial 1 Trial 2

Container 548g 548g

Container with sodium 567g 565g

bicarbonate
Sodium bicarbonate 19g 17g
 After heat decomposition (100°C)

Trial 1 Trial 2

Container with sodium X 566g 563g

Sodium X 18g 15g

Average Sodium bicarbonate = 19+17/2 =18g

Average Sodium X =18+15/2=16.5g

CALCULATION

1. Balanced chemical equations with proper chemical formulas for all three
possible.

(1st possible reaction)

Na2CO3 + H2O > 2NaOH + CO2

(2nd possible reaction)

2NaHCO3 > Na2O + 2CO2 + H2O

(3rd possible reaction)

2NaHCO3 > Na2CO3 +CO2 + H2O

 2. Determine stoichiometric mass predictions for each possible reaction.

(1st possible reaction) 200 °C

(18.5g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole NaOH/1 mole NaHCO 3)

x (40.0g NaOH/1 mole NaOH) = 8.8095 g NaOH

(2nd possible reaction) 200 °C

(18.5g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole Na2O/2 mole NaHCO3)

x (62.0g Na2O/1 mole Na2O) = 6.8274g Na2O

(3rd possible reaction) 200 °C

(18.5g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO 3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole Na2CO3/2 mole

NaHCO3) x (106.0g Na2CO3/1 mole Na2CO3) = 11.6726g Na2CO3

(1st possible reaction) 100 °C

(18.0g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole NaOH/1 mole NaHCO 3)

x (40.0g NaOH/1 mole NaOH) = 8.5714 g NaOH

(2nd possible reaction) 100 °C

(18.0g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole Na2O/2 mole NaHCO3)

x (62.0g Na2O/1 mole Na2O) = 6.6429g Na2O

(3rd possible reaction) 100 °C

(18.0g NaHCO3/1) x (1 mole NaHCO 3/84.0g NaHCO3) x (1 mole Na2CO3/2 mole

NaHCO3) x (106.0g Na2CO3/1 mole Na2CO3) = 11.3571g Na2CO3
 3. Determine which is the correct decomposition.

(1st possible reaction) 200°C

Yield Percent = 12/8.8095 x 100 = 136.66%

(2nd possible reaction) 200°C

Yield Percent = 12/6.8274 x 100 = 175.76%

(3rd possible reaction) 200°C

Yield Percent = 12/11.6726 x 100 =102.80%

(1st possible reaction) 100°C

Yield Percent = 16.5/8.5714 x 100 = 192.50%

(2nd possible reaction) 100°C

Yield Percent = 16.5/6.6429 x 100 = 248.39%

(3rd possible reaction) 100°C

Yield Percent = 16.5/11.3571 x 100 =145.05%

Hence, 3rd possible reaction is the correct decomposition reaction because yield
percent on the 3rd possible reaction show the percent near with 100%.

DISCUSSION
 The purpose this experiment to quantify the chemical components in sodium
bicarbonate upon decomposition using heat and to determine the decomposition
reaction. By the heating sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3, it probably produces
sodium hydroxide, sodium oxide, sodium carbonate, steam and carbon dioxide gas
respectively. Balance chemical equation:

NaHCO3 > NaOH + CO2 (1st possible reaction)

2NaHCO3 > Na2O + 2CO2 + H2O (2nd possible reaction)

2NaHCO3 > Na2CO3 +CO2 + H2O (3rd possible reaction)

The balance equation shows the release of H 2O(g) and CO2(g) leaving
NaHCO3(s). The product possible reaction is the mass collected and weighed after the
reaction. This is referred to as the actual yield. The calculated mass for the possible
reaction from the balanced equation is the theoretical yield. The ratio of actual yield to
theoretical yield from the balance equation times 100%. This is called the percent yield.
It can be greater than or less than 100%

Based on the data recorded in the mass table for sodium bicarbonate, a
temperature of 200°C we find that the average mass for sodium bicarbonate is with an
average of 18.5g from trial 1 and trial 2 which is we get from 18g and 19g. While for the
mass at a temperature of 100°C we find from the mass from trial 1 and trial 2 is 17g and
19g with average 18g.

After heating, it will produce sodium x where we use a mass of sodium

bicarbonate that has been weighed for use in stoichiometry to obtain the theoretical
value to determine sodium x based on a possible reaction based on a given chemical
equation by percent yield. The values weighed for two different temperatures are not the
same where at a temperature of 200°C we find the average mass of sodium x is 12g
from 11g from trial 1 and 13g from trial 2. For a temperature of 100°C the average is
16.5g from 18g and 15g from trial 1 and trial 2.
 After calculating we have obtained theoretical values for NaOH, Na2O and
Na2CO3 for temperatures 200°C is 8.8095g NaOH, 6.8274g Na 2O and 11.6726g
Na2CO3. As for the temperature of 100°C, we got 8.5714g NaOH, 6.6429g Na 2O and
11.3571g Na2CO3. After finding the theoretical value, the value is used to find the yield
percent to determine the correct decomposition where the value is 192.50% NaOH,
248.38% Na2O and 145.05% Na2CO3 for temperature 100°C and 136.22% NaOH,
175.76% Na2O and for Na2CO3 is 102.80% at temperature 200°C. So, we can conclude
that 3rd reaction is the correct decomposition.

During this experiment we found that there was a significant change in sodium
bicarbonate mass after heating in at different temperatures. If can prove by article
Vanishing Baking Soda by Svenja Loher, she wrote Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate
(NaHCO3), is a chemical that can undergo a decomposition reaction when heated. At
temperatures above 176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius), sodium bicarbonate
starts to break down into three compounds, forming sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), water
(H2O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The higher the temperature of the sodium
bicarbonate, the faster it will decompose. Only most pure sodium carbonate will remain
as a solid product.[ CITATION Sve17 \l 1033 ].The error happens in this experiment
because of a parallax error happening during the experiment done. It might be affect by
the air which made the weighing reading don’t give accurate value. So it will give not
accurate value during calculation.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the heating of the sodium bicarbonate caused the mixture to

decompose into sodium carbonate solid, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The
carbon dioxide gas and water vapor escaped into the atmosphere and decreasing the
mass.The mass for sodium bicarbonate at temperature of 200°C came that the with
average of 18.5g from trial 1 and trial 2 which is we get from 18g and 19g. While for the
mass at a temperature of 100°C we find from the mass from trial 1 and trial 2 is 17g and
19g with average 18g. The values weighed for two different temperatures are not the
same where at a temperature of 200°C we find the average mass of sodium x is 12g
from 11g from trial 1 and 13g from trial 2. Meanwhile, for temperature of 100°C the
average is 16.5g from 18g and 15g from trial 1 and trial 2. After calculating we have
obtained theoretical values for NaOH, Na2O and Na2CO3 for temperatures 200°C is
8.8095g NaOH, 6.8274g Na2O and 11.6726g Na2CO3. As for the temperature of
100°C, we got 8.5714g NaOH, 6.6429g Na2O and 11.3571g Na2CO3. After finding the
theoretical value, the value is used to find the yield percent to determine the correct
decomposition where the value is 192.50% NaOH, 248.38% Na2O and 145.05%
Na2CO3 for temperature 100°C and 136.22% NaOH, 175.76% Na2O and for Na2CO3
is 102.80% at temperature 200°C. So, we can made final conclude that 3rd reaction is
the correct decomposition.

RECOMMENDATION

Students should read and research more about the experiment before conducting
the experiment. This is to ensure the students able to conduct the experiment smoothly
and within the allocated time limit without facing confusion about the next step during
the experiment. Preparation for the data table should be done before the experiment to
avoid confusion and all the data for the experiment get to be recorded for the report.

The students should properly learn how to handle instrument and apparatus. As
for the experiment, the students must carefully use the apparatus especially when
weighing the mass of sodium bicarbonate. Since this could lead to inaccurate data
obtained due to the air surround used for the experiment and tabulated in the data table.

REFERENCE

Compound Summary Sodium Bircarbonate. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Library of Medicine:
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-bicarbonate
Decomposition Sodium Bicarbonate. (n.d.). Retrieved from Birdvilleschools:
https://www.birdvilleschools.net/cms/lib/TX01000797/Centricity/Domain/125/Decomp
%20of%20Baking%20soda.pdf

Flinn Scientific Chem Fax. (2017). In Decomposition of Baking Soda (pp. 1-3). Flinn Scientific.

Loher, S. (17 August, 2017). Vanishing Baking Soda. Retrieved from Scientific American:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/vanishing-baking-soda/#:~:text=Baking
%20soda%2C%20or%20sodium%20bicarbonate,carbon%20dioxide%20(CO2).

Reaction Stoichiometry. (n.d.). Retrieved from Lumen:

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-chemistry/chapter/reaction-stoichiometry/