Decompostion Reaction Lab

Purpose: Can baking soda be broken down into its component parts by heating?

Materials:
baking soda (NaHCO3)
propane tank
test tube holder
safety goggles
wood splint
matches
Caution: Be extremely careful with open flames!  Wear safety goggles!

Procedure:

  1. Place 2cm of baking soda in the tesst tube.
  2. Use matches to light propane.  Hold test tube over flame.  Caution:  Always be careful around a flame. Point test tube away from people.
  3. Test for the presence of carbon dioxide (CO2) by lighting the end of the wood splint and placing the flame at the opening of the test tube.  If it goes out there is CO2 present.
Observations/Data:
The equation for this reaction is 2NaHCO3 --------> CO2+NaCO3+H2O

Review:

Help me out here!
1.What is the color of the Baking soda.  Does it change?
White.  It does not change. Black.  It does not change. Black.  It changes to white.
2.Is there anything on the walls of the test tube?  Describe.
No, there is not. Yes, there is a black powder. Yes, there is a clear vapor.
3.What happened to the flaming splint?  Why?
Nothing. The flame flared up. It went out.
4.How many reactants?
One. Two. Three.
5.Is the reactant an element or a compound?  How do you know?
Element, there is only one  
substance.		 Compound, the substance is made of multiple elements. Element, it is a powder.
6.How many products?
Three. Two. One.
7.What gas was released?
Carbon monoxide. Carbon dioxide. Copper dioxide.
8.Can you break down baking soda by heating it?
No. Yes. Only in excess of 10,000o C.
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