During preparation, baking soda (NaHCO3) is added to the water to create a solution. Which of the options below is the best reason why baking soda was added?(1 point)

Question

Responses

To keep the elodea plant from decaying
To keep the elodea plant from decaying

To keep the water from changing into another color
To keep the water from changing into another color

To add oxygen to the solution that the plant needs as a reactant of photosynthesis
To add oxygen to the solution that the plant needs as a reactant of photosynthesis

To add carbon dioxide to the solution that the plant needs as a reactant of photosynthesis

Answer 1

The best reason for adding baking soda (NaHCO₃) to the water in this context is:

To add carbon dioxide to the solution that the plant needs as a reactant of photosynthesis.

Baking soda dissociates in water to produce bicarbonate ions, which can release carbon dioxide (CO₂). This carbon dioxide is essential for the process of photosynthesis in plants like elodea.