During an experiment, vinegar was added to baking soda in a container. The container's temperature dropped, and gas bubbles were released during the mix.

Question

Identify if this mixture of baking soda and vinegar was a physical or chemical change.
Justify your answer.

Answer 1

The mixture of baking soda and vinegar represents a chemical change.

Justification:

1. Formation of Gas: When baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) reacts with vinegar (acetic acid), it produces carbon dioxide gas as one of the products. The release of gas bubbles is indicative of a chemical reaction occurring.

2. Temperature Change: The drop in temperature suggests that the reaction is endothermic, meaning it absorbs heat from the surroundings. This is another sign that a chemical change is taking place, as energy is involved in breaking and forming bonds.

3. New Substances: The reaction produces new substances: carbon dioxide (gas), water, and sodium acetate. A chemical change typically involves the formation of one or more new products with different properties from the original reactants.

Overall, the observable signs of gas formation and temperature change, along with the production of new substances, confirm that the interaction between baking soda and vinegar is indeed a chemical change.