How might you tell whether or not your toothpaste contained either calcium carbonate, CaCO₃, or baking soda, NaHCO₃, without looking at the ingredients label?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) and baking soda (NaHCO₃) react with acids to produce carbon dioxide gas, which causes bubbling. Vinegar is a common household acid (acetic acid), so if the toothpaste bubbles when added to vinegar, it likely contains either calcium carbonate or baking soda. Heating or adding to ammonia wouldn't specifically indicate the presence of these compounds, and the production of a salt like NaCl from adding HCl doesn't uniquely identify these substances either, as many reactions with HCl can produce salts.

How Might You Tell Whether or Not Your Toothpaste Contained