When you add a few drops of acetic acid to a test-tube containing sodium bicarbonate powder, which one of the following is your observation?
(a) No reaction takes place.
(b) A colourless gas with pungent smell is released with brisk effervescence.
(c) A brown coloured gas is released with brisk effervescence.
(d) Formation of bubbles of a colorless and odorless gas.
Answer
When acetic acid is added to sodium bicarbonate, the following reaction takes place:
Bubbles of CO 2 gas (which is colorless and odourless ) are seen.
Checking the options
- (a) No reaction takes place - This is incorrect.
- (b) A colourless gas with a pungent smell is released with brisk effervescence - CO 2 gas is odorless. Hence, this is incorrect.
- (c) A brown coloured gas is released with brisk effervescence - CO 2 gas is colorless. Hence, this is incorrect.
- (d) Formation of bubbles of a colourless and odourless gas - This is correct since CO 2 is colorless and odourless and it also produces a brisk effervescence.
Therefore, the correct option is (d) - formation of bubbles of a colorless and odourless gas.