DECOMPISITION OF BAKING SODA

Lab report – Bruno Moulheres, Michael Branas, Daniel Deleon, Melanie Moron

OVERVIEW

1. Purpose
The objective of this lab is to tentatively figure out which of these three reactions is
correct. Understudies use stoichiometry to figure out which reaction is really happening
inside the pot. Due to the over usage of sodium bicarbonate ( baking soda), the
decomposition in reactions have been used in food science. Baking soda has several
uses, such as preparing cakes to make sure they rise when heated in the oven. In this
experiment, it establishes which reaction would be correct out of the following: 
sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium hydroxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g) 
sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium oxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)
 sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium carbonate (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)
This allows for scientist to know what reaction is seen when baking soda is put under a
specific heat and mass. 

2. Potential Chemical Reactions

 Sodium Bicarbonate (s) = Sodium Hydroxide (s) + Carbon Dioxide (g)
 NaHCO3 = NaOH + CO2
 Sodium Bicarbonate (s) = Sodium Oxide (s) + Carbon Dioxide (g) +
water (g)
 2 NaHCO3 = Na2O + 2 CO2 + H2O
 Sodium Bicarbonate (s) = Sodium Carbonate (s) + Carbon Dioxide (g) +
Water (g)
 2 NaHCO3 = Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O

3. Data Table

Mass of empty crucible: 28.9 grams

Mass of baking soda used: 2.0 grams of CHNaO₃

Mass of crucible with baking soda: 30.9 grams

Mass of crucible w/ baking soda after heated: 30.1 grams

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 4. Calculations
 First possible reaction
o 2.00g NaHCO3/1 x 1 mol NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3 x 1 mol
NaOH/ 1 mol NaHCO3 x 40.0g NaOH/1 mol NaOH = 0.952g
NaOH
 Second possible reaction
o 2.00g NaHCO3/1 x 1 mol NaHCO3/84.0G NaHCO3 x 1 mol
Na2O/2 mols NaHCO3 x 62.0g Na2O/1 mol Na2O = 0.738g
Na2O
 Third possible reaction
o 2.00g NaHCO3/1 x 1 mol NaHCO3/84.0g NaHCO3 x 1 mol
Na2CO3/2 mols NaHCO3 x 106g Na2CO3/1 mol Na2CO3 =
1.26 g Na2CO3

5. Conclusions

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
decreasing the mass. The only correct reaction is reaction number 3:
Sodium Bicarbonate (s) = Sodium Carbonate (s) + Carbon Dioxide (g)
+ Water (g). The second reaction lacks the sodium carbonate that is
formed in the process while the first reaction lacks the water vapor that is
produced, leaving the only possible and probable reaction to be reaction
number 3.