Question

why a chemical reaction between molecules of baking soda, citric acid, and water could produce only one of these, Sodium citrates, sodium nitrate, or ammonium nitrate

Answer 1

1) We need to find out every molecule.

Reactants

Baking soda: NaHCO3

Citric acid: C6H8O7

Water: H2O

Possible products

Sodium citrate: Na3C6H5O7

Sodium nitrate: NaNO3

Ammonium nitrate: NH4NO3

2) Set the chemical equation (reactants)

`\text{NaHCO}_3+C_6H_8O_7+H_2O\text{ = }`

3) According to the reactants we can expect in the products' side elements such as Sodium, Carbon, Hydrogen, and Oxygen. So, those compounds with Nitrogen cannot be in the reaction.