Nahco3 Experiment Lab Report

The initial mass was obtained by weighing the crucible and then measuring it with the Sodium bicarbonate. The final mass was found by subtracting the mass after the Sodium bicarbonate had been heated from the total initial mass. Some observations that were recorded as the sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3 was being heated include small bubbles and vapor given off, condensation, a rippling effect of the NaHCO3 as it was refining, and retraction from the edges of the crucible. As the NaHCO3 was refining, rippling, and retracting, it was becoming pure sodium.
One error that was made was that each trial did not last the same amount of time. In the first trial, the NaHCO3 was held over the bunsen burner for 4 minutes while the other two trials were