ABSTRACT

The rate of decomposition of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) into carbonate (Na2CO3) at atmospheric
pressure and temperatures up to 200 °C was measured as weight loss. Decomposition occurs because
of heat that decomposes into solid sodium bicarbonate (Lohner, 2017). From the 100 °C result, the
moles obtained from trial 1 and trial 2 for equation 1 (NaOH) are 9.05g and 8.10g NaOH, respectively.
For equation 2 (Na2O), the moles obtained from trials 1 and 2 are 7.01g and 6.27g Na2O, respectively.
In addition, 12.00 g and 10.73 g Na2CO3 are the moles obtained from Study 1 and Study 2 for
Equation 3 (Na2CO3). The decomposition rate of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) into carbonate
(Na2CO3) at atmospheric pressure and temperatures up to 200 °C was measured as a loss of weight.
Decomposition occurs due to heat that decomposes into solid sodium bicarbonate (Lohner, 2017).
From the 100 °C result, the moles obtained from trial 1 and trial 2 for equation 1 (NaOH) are 9.05g
and 8.10g NaOH respectively. The moles for equation 2 (Na2O) obtained from trials 1 and 2 are 7.01g
and 6.27g Na2O, respectively. In addition, the moles obtained for equation 3 (Na2CO3) from trial 1
and 2 are 12.00 g and 10.73 g Na2CO3, respectively.

Introduction

Stoichiometry is the most important and fundamental topic in chemistry and the essence of
chemical engineering. It is used in the industry to determine the amount of materials that
are required and estimate the amount of product obtained from a given reaction and aid in
deciding profitability. Stoichiometry is based on the law of conservation of mass which
states that the total mass of a reactant is equal to the total mass of the products, where the
relationships among quantities of reactant and products typically form a ratio. Stoichiometry
of a reaction is calculated from the moles and mole ratio of substances of a balanced chemical
equation which is then converted to the desired unit of substance required.

Due to the widespread use of sodium bicarbonate commonly called baking soda in many foods, the
thermal decomposition reaction has been widely discovered by food chemists. Sodium bicarbonate is
used to prepare the cake to ensure that the cake "rises" when it is baked. When the temperature of
the batter reaches about 50°C, the baking soda decomposes and releases carbon dioxide. In pancakes
and waffles, the use of baking soda is especially common because the high cooking temperature of
175-230°C releases carbon dioxide before the dough solidifies. Therefore, the batter rose before it
solidified, and we got a light and delicious finished product. Three possible chemical reactions can
occur during the baking process. In theory, all three reactions shownare possible, but in reality only
one reaction may occur.Possible Decomposition Reactions are shown below
(Flinn Scientific Chem fax, 2017)

1. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium hydroxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g)

2. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium oxide (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)
3. sodium bicarbonate (s) → sodium carbonate (s) + carbon dioxide (g) + water (g)

Safety Precautions
Exercise caution when using the Bunsen burner and when handling objects that have
been heated. Do not touch the crucible or any metal that may remain hot. Use heat
resistant gloves if necessary. Wear safety goggles while performing this demonstration.
Please review all Material Safety Data Sheets for additional safety, handling and
disposal information.

AIMS
(a) To quantify the chemical components in sodium bicarbonate upon decomposition
using heat.
(b) To determine the decomposition reaction.
MATERIAL AND APPARATUS
1. Balance Pan
2. Weighing dish
3. Crucible
4. Ring stand with circular
5. Ring support
6. Spatula
7. Clay Triangle
8. Spoon
9. Oven
10. Baking soda

4.4 Procedure
1. We were required to record all necessary masses throughout this experiment.
2. The empty crucible was placed on the balance pan and then the tare/reset button
was pressed. The mass of the empty crucible has been record.
3. Measure some baking soda (between 3 – 6 grams) into the crucible. The mass has
been recorded.
4. The ring stand was assembled with a circular ring support. the clay triangle was
placed on top of the ring support then placed the crucible that containing the baking
soda on top of the clay triangle
5. the crucible and its contents has been heated with the Bunsen burner for ten
minutes with 100 celcius.A spatula is used with careful to break up any “clumps” that
formed during heating session. Clumps need to be broken only once during heating.
6. Steps 1 until 5 were repeated by changing the temperature 100 to 200 .
7.the mass the crucible and its contents was measured. the mass of the product has
been reported.

Results :
200

BEFORE HEAT DECOMPOSITION

Trial 1 Trial 2
container 548 g 550 g
Container + sodium 566 g 569 g

bicarbonate
sodium bicarbonate 18 g 19 g

AFTER HEAT DECOMPOSITION

Trial 1 Trial 2
Container + sodium X 559 g 563 g
sodium bicarbonate 11 g 13 g

100

BEFORE HEAT DECOMPOSITION

 Trial 1 Trial 2
container 548 g 548 g
Container + sodium 567 g 565 g

bicarbonate
sodium bicarbonate 19 g 17 g

AFTER HEAT DECOMPOSITION

Trial 1 Trial 2
Container + sodium X 566 g 563 g
sodium bicarbonate 18 g 15 g

Calculations :

100 cel 1trial

Theoretical Yields

1. HNaC O 3 → NaOH +C O 2

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH 40.0 g of NaOH

19 g of HNaC O3 × × × =9.05g
84 g HNaC O3 1 mole of HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH

NaOH

2. 2 HNaC O 3 → N a2 O+2 C O 2+ H 2 O
 1 mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O 61.98 g of N a2 O
19 g of HNaC O 3 × × × = 7.01g N
84 g HNaC O 3 2 mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O

a2O

3. 2 HNaC O3 → N a2 C O3+C O2+ H 2 O

1 mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 C O 3 105.99 g of N a2 C O 3

19 of HNaC O 3 × × × =
84 g HNaC O 3 2mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 C O 3

12.00g N a2 C O 3

100 cel 2trial

Theoretical Yields

1. HNaC O 3 → NaOH +C O2

1 mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of NaOH 40.0 g of NaOH

17 g of HNaC O 3 × × × = 8.10g
84 g HNaC O 3 1 mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of NaOH

NaOH

2. 2 HNaC O3 → N a2 O+2 C O 2+ H 2 O

1 mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O 61.98 g of N a2 O

17 g of HNaC O 3 × × × = 6.30g N
84 g HNaC O 3 2 mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O

a2O

3. 2 HNaC O3 → N a2 C O3+C O2+ H 2 O

1mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 C O 3 105.99 g of N a2 C O 3

17 of HNaC O 3 × × × =
84 g HNaC O 3 2 mole of HNaC O 3 1mole of N a 2 C O 3

10.73g N a2 C O 3

200 cel 1trial

Theoretical Yields

1. HNaC O 3 → NaOH +C O 2

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH 40.0 g of NaOH

18 g of HNaC O3 × × × = 8.60g
84 g HNaC O3 1 mole of HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH

NaOH

2. 2 HNaC O 3 → N a2 O+2 C O 2+ H 2 O

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of N a2 O 61.98 g of N a2 O

18 g of HNaC O3 × × × = 6.60g N
84 g HNaC O3 2 mole of HNaC O3 1 mole of N a2 O

a2O

3. 2 HNaC O 3 → N a2 C O 3+C O 2+ H 2 O

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of N a2 C O3 105.99 g of N a2 C O3

18 g of HNaC O3 × × × =
84 g HNaC O3 2 mole of HNaC O3 1 mole of N a2 C O3

11.36g N a2 C O3

200 cel 2trial

Theoretical Yields

1. HNaC O 3 → NaOH +C O 2

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH 40.0 g of NaOH

19 g of HNaC O3 × × × = 9.05g
84 g HNaC O3 1 mole of HNaC O3 1 mole of NaOH

NaOH

2. 2 HNaC O 3 → N a2 O+2 C O 2+ H 2 O
 1 mol HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O 61.98 g of N a2 O
19 g of HNaC O 3 × × × = 7.00g N
84 g HNaC O 3 2 mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 O

a2O

3. 2 HNaC O3 → N a2 C O3+C O2+ H 2 O

1 mol HNaC O3 1 mole of N a2 C O 3 105.99 g of N a2 C O 3

19 g of HNaC O 3 × × × =
84 g HNaC O 3 2 mole of HNaC O 3 1 mole of N a2 C O 3

12.00g N a2 C O 3

The second theoretical yield reaction 2 HNaC O3 → N a2 C O3+C O2+ H 2 O fits the

experimental yield.

Percent yield:

Tℎeoretical
×100
Experimental ❑❑

100 cel

12 g
= ×100 = 103%
11.68 ❑❑

200 cel

16.5 g
= ×100 = 145%
11.37 g ❑❑

Percent error
|Experimental − accepted value|
×100
Accepted ❑❑

|1 2.00 g − 11.68 g|
for 100 cel = × 100 = 2.70%
1 1.68 g ❑❑

|1 6.5 g − 11.37 g|
For 200 cel = × 100= 45.12%
1 1.37 g ❑❑

Discussion:
The purpose this experiment to quantify the chemical components in sodium
bicarbonate upon decomposition using heat and to determine the decomposition reaction. By
the heating sodium hydrogen carbonate, NaHCO3, it probably produces sodium hydroxide,
sodium oxide, sodium carbonate, steam and carbon dioxide gas respectively. Balance
chemical equation:
NaHCO3 > NaOH + CO2 (1st possible reaction)
2NaHCO3 > Na2O + 2CO2 + H2O (2nd possible reaction)
2NaHCO3 > Na2CO3 +CO2 + H2O (3rd possible reaction)
The balance equation shows the release of H2O(g) and CO2(g) leaving NaHCO3(s).
The product possible reaction is the mass collected and weighed after the reaction. This is
referred to as the actual yield. The calculated mass for the possible reaction from the
balanced equation is the theoretical yield. The ratio of actual yield to theoretical yield from the
balance equation times 100%. This is called the percent yield. It can be greater than or less
than 100%
Based on the data recorded in the mass table for sodium bicarbonate, a temperature
of 200°C we find that the average mass for sodium bicarbonate is with an average of 18.5g
from trial 1 and trial 2 which is we get from 18g and 19g. While for the mass at a temperature
of 100°C we find from the mass from trial 1 and trial 2 is 17g and 19g with average 18g.
After heating, it will produce sodium x where we use a mass of sodium bicarbonate
that has been weighed for use in stoichiometry to obtain the theoretical value to determine
sodium x based on a possible reaction based on a given chemical equation by percent yield.
The values weighed for two different temperatures are not the same where at a temperature
of 200°C we find the average mass of sodium x is 12g from 11g from trial 1 and 13g from trial
2. For a temperature of 100°C the average is 16.5g from 18g and 15g from trial 1 and trial 2.
After calculating we have obtained theoretical values for NaOH, Na2O and Na2CO3
for temperatures 200°C is 8.8095g NaOH, 6.8274g Na 2O and 11.6726g Na2CO3. As for the
temperature of 100°C, we got 8.5714g NaOH, 6.6429g Na 2O and 11.3571g Na2CO3. After
finding the theoretical value, the value is used to find the yield percent to determine the
correct decomposition where the value is 192.50% NaOH, 248.38% Na 2O and 145.05%
Na2CO3 for temperature 100°C and 136.22% NaOH, 175.76% Na 2O and for Na2CO3 is
102.80% at temperature 200°C. So, we can conclude that 3rd reaction is the correct
decomposition.
During this experiment we found that there was a significant change in sodium
bicarbonate mass after heating in at different temperatures. If can prove by article Vanishing
Baking Soda by Svenja Loher, she wrote Baking soda, or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), is a
chemical that can undergo a decomposition reaction when heated. At temperatures above
176 degrees Fahrenheit (80 degrees Celsius), sodium bicarbonate starts to break down into
three compounds, forming sodium carbonate (Na2CO3), water (H2O) and carbon dioxide
(CO2). The higher the temperature of the sodium bicarbonate, the faster it will decompose.
Only most pure sodium carbonate will remain as a solid product.[ CITATION Sve17 \l 1033 ].The
error happens in this experiment because of a parallax error happening during the experiment
done. It might be affect by the air which made the weighing reading don’t give accurate value.
So it will give not accurate value during calculation.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, the heating of the sodium bicarbonate caused the mixture to
decompose into sodium carbonate solid, water vapor, and carbon dioxide gas. The carbon
dioxide gas and water vapor escaped into the atmosphere and decreasing the mass.The
mass for sodium bicarbonate at temperature of 200°C came that the with average of 18.5g
from trial 1 and trial 2 which is we get from 18g and 19g. While for the mass at a temperature
of 100°C we find from the mass from trial 1 and trial 2 is 17g and 19g with average 18g. The
values weighed for two different temperatures are not the same where at a temperature of
200°C we find the average mass of sodium x is 12g from 11g from trial 1 and 13g from trial 2.
Meanwhile, for temperature of 100°C the average is 16.5g from 18g and 15g from trial 1 and
trial 2. After calculating we have obtained theoretical values for NaOH, Na2O and Na2CO3 for
temperatures 200°C is 8.8095g NaOH, 6.8274g Na2O and 11.6726g Na2CO3. As for the
temperature of 100°C, we got 8.5714g NaOH, 6.6429g Na2O and 11.3571g Na2CO3. After
finding the theoretical value, the value is used to find the yield percent to determine the
correct decomposition where the value is 192.50% NaOH, 248.38% Na2O and 145.05%
Na2CO3 for temperature 100°C and 136.22% NaOH, 175.76% Na2O and for Na2CO3 is
102.80% at temperature 200°C. So, we can made final conclude that 3rd reaction is the
correct decomposition.

When you heat baking soda, a chemical reaction occurs and a new product is
produced. The chemical reaction that occurs is decomposition reaction where the one
substance, 2NaHCO3 , decomposed into more substances; Na2CO3 + CO2 + H2O.
The question this lab report is based off of is How much Na2CO3 is produced when 3
grams of baking soda is decomposed. We can answer this question two ways. One by
performing the experiment, and two by using the math formula called Stoichiometry.
We did both and got two answers. The real/accepted answer, because there can be no
error if the math is correct, comes from the stoichiometry. By doing the math, as seen
in our calculations, the amount of Na2CO3 produced should be 1.89 grams. The
experiment allows a little room for error. By performing the experiment, heating the
baking soda and measuring its before and after masses, our calculations led us to the
amount of Na2CO3 produced in the reaction being 1.6 grams. The error that possibly
could have occurred here would have been in our calculating the mass on the scales
but more specifically, not having exactly 3 grams of baking soda to start with. In fact,
we should have had less than 3 grams. Using these two answers, we were able to find
the error and the percent error in our experiment which was 0.29 grams and 15%
error.