I just did a lab for school and I found that there was a greater production of co2 gas from the reaction of baking soda and vinegar at the start of the reaction than after the reaction occured. Is there a reason for this? I know for concentration it can be explained by a greater quantity of solute present at the beginning of the experiment, but why is it that there is more co2 gas being produced at the start of the reaction?
You’ve actually kind of already answered your own question. :) As I understand it, you’re asking why more bubbles get made at the beginning than at the end. When you do the vinegar + baking soda rection, there’s actually 4 separate reactions going on (basically simultaneously, which is part of what makes the reaction so vigorous.), one of which is the production of CO2. So there’s more production at the beginning for the same reasons you’ve already mentioned. There’s simply more reactants at the start of the reaction than at the end. It has fully transitioned into being product instead of reactant, and by the end there’s less and less of the starting material to cause the reactions and make the gas. Basically, it runs out of gas.
Also, somewhat related, but after you asked this I realized I hadn’t seen this reaction in awhile, and I found this cool slo-mo video of it on youtube:
I hope that answers your question. :) If you’d like more detail, drop me a line.