Changing Ratios of Reactants In task 1, you observed how baking soda and vinegar react to make a gas. The gas is carbon dioxide, the same gas we exhale from our lungs. When fuels burn, they also produce carbon dioxide. In this task, you’ll change the ratio of baking soda and vinegar to see whether it changes the amount of carbon dioxide.

Estimated time to complete: 30 minutes

You will need these materials:
safety goggles
baking soda
white vinegar at room temperature
set of measuring spoons
1 cup graduated measuring cup
3 or more large containers of similar size and shape; must hold at least 2 cups (suggestion: tall glasses, large mugs, or bowls)
tray, rimmed cookie sheet, or large sink to hold containers and contain overflow
paper towels
Stay safe! Follow these safety guidelines for this experiment:
Always wear your safety goggles. Be careful if you are using glass or china. If you drop a container and it breaks, tell an adult right away and follow the adult’s instructions for how to safely clean up the broken container.
The chemical reaction in this experiment can overflow. To avoid overflow, do not use more than ½ teaspoon of baking soda or ½ cup of vinegar at any time during the experiment.
Question 1: Planning and Data Collection
Part A
This investigation is a controlled experiment, so you can change only one variable at a time. Decide whether you’ll change the amount of baking soda or the amount of vinegar. Give a reason for your choice.