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Chemistry Forums for Students => High School Chemistry Forum => Topic started by: Bill on November 21, 2004, 07:03:54 PM

Title: Acids/Basis
Post by: Bill on November 21, 2004, 07:03:54 PM
I'm helping my son with his eighth grade science fair project.  We are fueling a rocket car with a vinegar/baking soda mixture.  We are testing the reaction speed by changing the pressure,temperature, and concentration levels.  I cannot find imformation on the reaction taking place between the vinegar and baking soda that creates the pressure.  I know the vinegar has H+ ions and the baking soda+water is OH- but what is happening when the two are combined  that creates the pressure? ???
Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: budullewraagh on November 21, 2004, 07:14:05 PM
Vinegar (CH3COOH)  + Baking Soda (NaHCO3)  --->  Sodium Ethanoate (CH3COONa)  +  Carbonic Acid (H2CO3)

The bubbles are carbon dioxide and are produced by the decomposition of the carbonic acid (which occurs rapidly)
H2CO3  --->  H2O  +  CO2
Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: Mitch on November 21, 2004, 07:36:21 PM
good answer scooby snack given. :)
Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: billnotgatez on November 21, 2004, 11:58:51 PM
Many documents give CH3COONa nomenclature to be Sodium Acetate instead of Sodium Ethanoate.
Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: billnotgatez on November 22, 2004, 12:39:19 AM
Greetings Bill,

Although I did not find a good site explaining the pressure change, I did find some good sites that have information on the vinegar and baking soda reaction.

http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/reactions/faq/print-classify-vinegar-bakingsoda.shtml
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/thermo/faq/vinegar-baking-soda-enthalpy.shtml

Maybe someone will give a better explanation than carbon dioxide is released to answer you pressure question.

Regards,
Bill

Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: billnotgatez on November 22, 2004, 05:14:54 AM
http://antoine.frostburg.edu/chem/senese/101/gases/faq/co2-from-vinegar-and-baking-soda.shtml
Title: Re:Acids/Basis
Post by: Bill on November 23, 2004, 05:40:54 PM
Hey guys,   thanks for all the help :)  The project is coming together nicely now.