In this lab, we figured out that hydrochloric acid was the limiting reactant. We set up three trials each with the same amount of hydrochloric acid but different amounts of baking soda. In our reactions, the same amount of COz gas was produced (approximately). What would be different if we kept the same amount of baking soda but used different amounts of hydrochloric acid in each trial? What do you predict would happen with the amount of COz gas as the amount of hydrochloric acid increased? State your prediction and give an explanation. We are not looking for a number as the answer; only a general prediction if the amount of carbon dioxide will stay the same or increase.

Since HCl is the limiting reactant, that means that the amount of product, which is [tex]CO_2[/tex] gas in this case, is dictated by the amount of HCl (e.g. we cannot have more than 2 full pens if we do not have 2 pen caps, even if we have more than 2 pens). This explains why the amount of CO[tex]_2[/tex] gas produced does not change when more baking soda is added. If we, however, increase in the amount of HCl in each trial, it should result in more CO[tex]_2[/tex] gas, as HCl is dictating how much gas is made in this reaction since it is the limiting reactant.