Question

50 ml of vinegar and 2 g of baking soda are added to flask. the flask is quickly sealed with a balloon. vinegar and baking soda react to produce carbon dioxide gas, which inflates the balloon. assume the density of the vinegar is 1 g/ml and that no gas escapes. what is the mass of the contents of the flask/balloon after the reaction stops?

a) less than 52 g
b) 51 g
c) 52 g
d) more than 52 g

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate mass of vinegar

Given density $
ho = 1\ g/mL$ and volume $V = 50\ mL$. Using $m=
ho V$, we have $m_{vinegar}=1\ g/mL\times50\ mL = 50\ g$.

Step2: Calculate total initial mass

Mass of baking - soda is $m_{soda}=2\ g$. Total initial mass $m_{total - initial}=m_{vinegar}+m_{soda}=50\ g + 2\ g=52\ g$.

Step3: Apply law of conservation of mass

Since the system is sealed and no gas escapes, according to the law of conservation of mass, the mass of the contents of the flask/balloon after the reaction stops is equal to the total initial mass.

Answer:

C. 52 g