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Reactions properties of the substance's properties of products

Reaction 2: Vinegar and baking soda.
A clear liquid (vinegar) and a white powder (baking soda).
A white precipitates forms (A powdery substance that settles to the bottom)

Reaction 2: Was this a chemical or physical reaction? How do you know?

1 answer

The reaction between vinegar (acetic acid) and baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) is a chemical reaction. Here are the reasons why this is the case:

  1. Formation of New Substances: During the reaction, vinegar reacts with baking soda to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and sodium acetate. The generation of gas (bubbles) and a new compound indicates a chemical change has occurred.

  2. Visual Indicators: The formation of a white precipitate (which in this case is likely sodium acetate when the solution clears) and the effervescence (bubbling) due to carbon dioxide release are clear signs of a chemical reaction.

  3. Change in Properties: The original properties of the reactants (vinegar and baking soda) differ significantly from those of the products. This includes changes in physical state (from solid and liquid to gas) and the appearance of new substances.

  4. Irreversibility: While some physical changes can be reversed, the reaction between vinegar and baking soda results in products that cannot easily revert back to the original reactants without undergoing a complex process.

In summary, given these observations and evidence, the reaction between vinegar and baking soda is classified as a chemical reaction.