Question

NaHCO3 + HC2H3O3 -> NaC2H3O2 + H2O+ CO2

A student mixes baking soda and acetic acid to produce a chemical reaction shown. which statement about the reaction is correct?

atoms of Na are destroyed during the reaction
there are more H atoms after the reaction
some atoms gain mass after reaction
the atoms of the reactants are regrouped during the reaction

Answers

GPT-4o mini
The correct statement about the reaction between baking soda (NaHCO3) and acetic acid (HC2H3O3) is:

**The atoms of the reactants are regrouped during the reaction.**

In a chemical reaction, the atoms are rearranged to form new substances, but no atoms are destroyed or created. This is in accordance with the law of conservation of mass. Therefore:

- Atoms of Na are not destroyed; they are rearranged into products.
- The number of H atoms before and after the reaction remains the same; they are also rearranged.
- Atoms do not gain mass during the reaction; mass is conserved.

Thus, the most accurate and scientifically valid statement is that the atoms of the reactants are regrouped during the reaction.

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