The major component of vinegar is acetic acid CH3COOH. Which of the following reactions represents the balanced equation between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate?

a. CH3COOH(aq) + NaHCO3 a CH3COONa(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(I)

b. CH3COOH(aq) + 2 NaHCO3(aq) + 3/2 O2(g) a 4 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(I) + 2 Na+(aq)

c. CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) a CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(aq)

d. 2 CH3COOH(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) a H2CO3(aq) + 2 CH3COONa(aq)

Acetic acid is CH3COOH. Sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3. What part of the question about balancing do you not understand. An equation is balanced when it has the same number of atoms of each element on each side of the arrow.

To determine the balanced equation between acetic acid (CH3COOH) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), we need to consider the reactants and products involved.

The chemical formula for acetic acid is CH3COOH, consisting of one carbon atom (C), two hydrogen atoms (H), two oxygen atoms (O), and one carboxyl group (COOH). The chemical formula for sodium bicarbonate is NaHCO3, which contains one sodium atom (Na), one hydrogen atom (H), one carbon atom (C), and three oxygen atoms (O).

We can begin by examining each of the given options and determining if the number of atoms on each side of the equation is balanced.

a. CH3COOH(aq) + NaHCO3(s) → CH3COONa(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)
In this equation, we have one carbon atom, four hydrogen atoms, and four oxygen atoms on both sides. This suggests that this equation is balanced in terms of the number of atoms.

b. CH3COOH(aq) + 2 NaHCO3(aq) + 3/2 O2(g) → 4 CO2(g) + 3 H2O(l) + 2 Na+(aq)
This equation involves a different reaction and includes oxygen gas in addition to acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate. Comparing the number of atoms, we have two carbon atoms, four hydrogen atoms, three oxygen atoms, and two sodium atoms on the left side. On the right side, we have four carbon atoms, six oxygen atoms, and two sodium atoms. The number of atoms is not balanced, so this equation is not correct.

c. CH3COOH(aq) + NaOH(aq) → CH3COONa(aq) + H2O(l)
This equation represents the reaction of acetic acid with sodium hydroxide, which is not sodium bicarbonate. Thus, this equation does not provide a balanced equation for the reaction of acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate.

d. 2 CH3COOH(aq) + Na2CO3(aq) → H2CO3(aq) + 2 CH3COONa(aq)
This equation involves acetic acid and sodium carbonate, with the formation of carbonic acid. It does not represent the reaction between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate.

Therefore, the correct balanced equation for the reaction between acetic acid and sodium bicarbonate is option a:

CH3COOH(aq) + NaHCO3(s) → CH3COONa(aq) + CO2(g) + H2O(l)