The ultimate mass in Group 2's experiment is expected to equal the final mass in Group 1's experiment, as mass remains conserved throughout chemical reactions.
Explanation: In both Group 1 and Group 2, the same total mass of reactants (5 grams of baking soda and 25 grams of vinegar) is used, and the chemical reaction that takes place between baking soda and vinegar produces carbon dioxide gas. In Group 1, the gas produced is trapped in the balloon, while in Group 2, the gas escapes into the environment. However, regardless of whether the gas is contained or allowed to escape, the law of conservation of mass states that the total mass of the system before and after the reaction remains constant. Therefore, the final masses of the two groups will be the same.