In the context of the mole concept, which statement best describes the role of baking soda (NaHCO_3) in mole calculations?

• A. Baking soda increases the number of moles in a chemical reaction regardless of its amount.
• B. Baking soda cannot be used in mole calculations because it is a base.
• C. Baking soda changes the definition of a mole for ionic compounds.
• D. Baking soda provides a way to relate mass to number of moles using its molar mass.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the mole concept: A mole is a unit that represents exactly \$6.022 \times 10^{23}$ particles (atoms, molecules, ions, etc.) of a substance.
2. Recognize that baking soda (NaHCO\(_3\)) is a chemical compound with a specific molar mass, which is the sum of the atomic masses of its constituent atoms.
3. Use the molar mass of baking soda to convert between the mass of baking soda and the number of moles. The formula is: \(\text{moles} = \frac{\text{mass (g)}}{\text{molar mass (g/mol)}}\).
4. Note that baking soda does not change the definition of a mole or the mole concept itself; it simply serves as a substance for which you can calculate moles based on its mass.
5. Therefore, baking soda's role in mole calculations is to provide a practical way to relate the measurable mass of a sample to the number of moles, using its known molar mass.