Does a gas form when vinegar and baking soda are mixed?

1 Answer
anor277
Oct 18, 2016

What did you see when you did the experiment? I am betting that you saw copious bubbling.

Explanation:

Vinegar is approx. 20% acetic acid in water. This acid is certainly strong enough to protonate baking soda.

#H_3C-CO_2H(aq) + NaHCO_3(aq)rarr H_3C-CO_2^(-)Na^(+) + CO_2(g)uarr+ H_2O#

When you bake a cake, you typically add baking soda. The baking soda reacts with the acidic eggs, and butter, and the released carbon dioxide, raises your cake, so it has a nice spongy texture. Yumm.

How would you confirm that the released gas in the experiment was carbon dioxide?

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