Sodium hydrogencarbonate, NaHCO3\text{NaHCO}_3NaHCO3, decomposes upon heating to form solid sodium carbonate, Na2CO3\text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3Na2CO3, water vapour, H2O\text{H}_2\text{O}H2O, and carbon dioxide gas, CO2\text{CO}_2CO2, according to the equation:
2NaHCO3→Na2CO3+H2O+CO22\text{NaHCO}_3 \rightarrow \text{Na}_2\text{CO}_3 + \text{H}_2\text{O} + \text{CO}_22NaHCO3→Na2CO3+H2O+CO2
In a thermal decomposition experiment, a student heats 50.4 g50.4\text{ g}50.4 g of sodium hydrogencarbonate. After the reaction goes to completion, 31.8 g31.8\text{ g}31.8 g of solid sodium carbonate and 5.4 g5.4\text{ g}5.4 g of water vapour are collected.
Determine the mass of carbon dioxide gas produced during this reaction.