A 14.7 g sample of sodium carbonate is added to a solution of acetic acid weighing 18.2 g. The two substances react, releasing carbon dioxide gas to the atmosphere. After reaction, the contents of the reaction vessel weighs 25.4 g. What is the mass of carbon dioxide given off during the reaction?
I got 8.0, is that correct. . . .significant figures play a major role in the correct anwser
2007-09-19 12:28:00 · 1 answers · asked by brettmhannan 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
This might be a math problem, but definitely NOT a scientific problem. The reason is that the molecular weight of sodium carbonate Na2CO3 is 106, while the molecular weight of carbon dioxide CO2 is 44. The reaction:
2 CH3COOH + Na2CO3 --> 2 CH3COONa + H2O + CO2
indicates that one mole of Na2CO3 is reacted to release only one mole of CO2. Thus the maximum of CO2 to be released is:
14.7 * 44/106 = 6.1 (grams)
While your reaction loses: 14.7+18.2-25.4 = 7.5 (grams)
Your experimental data involves a big error. Please check it.
2007-09-20 06:24:18 · answer #1 · answered by Hahaha 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋