Understanding the gas formation - When sodium carbonate reacts with acetic acid, carbon dioxide gas is produced as a byproduct. - The reaction is: \[ \text{CH}_3\text{COOH} + \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} + \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \] - The bubbles observed in the reaction are due to the release of \(\text{CO}_2\).