Question

Sodium Bicarbonate reacts with Acetic Acid and causes a chemical reaction. The end products of this reaction are water and what compound?

Answer 1

Aqueous sodium acetate and carbon dioxide.

Explanation:

Sodium bicarbonate, `"NaHCO"_3`, will react with acetic acid, `"CH"_3"COOH"`, to produce aqueous sodium acetate, `"CH"_3"COONa"`, and carbonic acid, `"H"_2"CO"_3`.

`"NaHCO"_ (3(aq)) + "CH"_ 3"COOH"_ ((aq)) -> "CH"_ 3"COONa"_ ((aq)) + "H"_ 2"CO"_ (3(aq))`

However, carbonic acid is highly unstable and will decompose to produce water and carbon dioxide

`"H"_ 2"CO"_ (3(aq)) rightleftharpoons "H"_ 2"O"_ ((l)) + "CO"_ (2(g)) uarr`

The carbon dioxide will actually bubble out of solution.

Therefore, you can say that the reaction between sodium bicarbonate and acetic acid will produce aqueous sodium acetate, water, and carbon dioxide

`"NaHCO"_ (3(aq)) + "CH"_ 3"COOH"_ ((aq)) -> "CH"_ 3"COONa"_ ((aq)) + "H"_ 2"O" _ ((l)) + "CO"_ (2(g)) uarr`

This is a classic example of a neutralization reaction in which sodium bicarbonate, or baking soda, is neutralized by a solution of acetic acid, or vinegar.