Question 20 • 26-27 - C - RUSD Chemistry in the Earth System
A student decides to use the rate law when investigating the reaction between sodium bicarbonate and vinegar. NaHCO sub 3 times s plus CH sub 3 COOH A q rightarrow Na raised to the plus A q power plus CH sub 3 COO raised to the negative A q power plus cap h sub 2 cap o l plus CO sub 2 times g Why would a student use rate laws in this investigation?
Answer
A
to find out if NaHCO sub 3 or CH sub 3 COOH is acting as a catalyst
B
to see how much sodium acetate is formed
C
to find out if more aqueous solution than gas is produced
D
to see how concentrations of NaHCO sub 3 and CH sub 3 COOH affect reaction rate
Explanation
A rate law describes how the concentrations of reactants affect the reaction rate. In this reaction, the student can use it to investigate how changing the concentrations of NaHCO₃ and CH₃COOH changes how quickly the reaction occurs. It does not directly measure how much product forms or determine whether a reactant is a catalyst.
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