Vinegar and Baking Soda Volcano

Test Number Vinegar Baking Soda Result
1 1 cup 5 teaspoons The amount of bubbles produced was far greater than expected, and they spewed over the edge of the volcano and all around it in about an 8-inch radius.

2 ½ cup 5 teaspoons The amount of bubbles produced was far less than before, with a spew-radius of only about 4 inches.

Prediction: With having half as much vinegar in the second test as the first one, it seemed logical that I would be subtracting from the fuel of the reaction, and therefore I predicted that much less bubbles would be produced, most likely around a 2-inch spew radius instead of the 8-inch radius first achieved.

Comparison: The results for the second test are stated above. The reaction that occurred was greater than I expected it would be, in that a 4-inch spew radius for the bubbles was produced, instead of the 2-inch that I expected. I did predict that much less bubbles, and therefore a smaller reaction would be produced, which was the case when only ½ of a cup of vinegar was used.

1. The reaction most likely to occur between these two compounds is a direct combination reaction.
2. The three gases that could possibly be produced in this reaction are hydrogen, oxygen gas, and carbon dioxide.
3. I do not think these gases are harmful, but if hydrogen gas is in fact produced, maintaining a flame in the presence of this gas could be hazardous to one’s health, for hydrogen is highly potent and will explode if near a flame. CO2 is harmful if it is inhaled too, because it is a waste product that the body wants to get rid of, not inhale.
4. You can look online for the exact products of this reaction, at which point you will be able to research each of the individual products to determine if they are potentially unsafe.
5. Do not to play with matches around this kind of reaction in case hydrogen is produced, in which case it could be potentially hazardous. Other than that, simply just to keep the substances in this reaction away from his eyes, and not to directly sniff the products. Sniffing them could be dangerous if CO2 is actually produced. Don't put your face near this reaction or go directly sniffing the products of this reaction.