Question

_____NaHCO3(s) □(→┴Δ ) _____H2O(g) + _____CO2(g) + _____Na2O(s)

Think about the splint test. Look at the products in the chemical equation in 3a. Could more than one product in this reaction given the observed results in the splint test? Explain in complete sentences.

Answer 1

The splint test is a method to identify the presence of flammable or oxidizing gases by observing the reaction of a burning or glowing splint when exposed to the gas. In the chemical equation given, there are two products that are gases: H2O(g) and CO2(g). Both of these gases are neither flammable nor oxidizing, and therefore they would not affect the splint test. However, if there were any traces of unreacted NaHCO3(s) in the jar, they could react with the heat and oxygen from the splint and produce more CO2(g) and Na2O(s), which could give a false positive result for the splint test. Therefore, it is possible that more than one product in this reaction could give the observed results in the splint test, depending on the purity and completeness of the reaction.