Conservation of Mass Lab Investigation

Today we did two experiments, one with Pop Rocks and soda and one with the cliche vinegar and baking soda. I predicted that if we put Pop Rocks in a soda bottle, then the balloon at the top would almost fill with the gas. I was partially correct because the balloon was partially filled but only like half full. I then predicted the same for the vinegar and baking soda and I was correct, out of a 9" balloon, about 8.5" were full of the carbon dioxide. The things that went wrong, oh don't get me started. First the Pop Rocks would get stuck when we were trying to put them in the balloon. Next, the Pop Rocks did not dissolve all the way which produced not enough gas, or so we think, the balloon also leaked the gas all over the place, good thing that it isn't toxic (or maybe it is, in high enough quantities). Then, the balloon that was for the vinegar and Baking Soda experiment got a giant hole in the side so we had to redo that experiment. Then the balloons just leaked the gas so it went from a full balloon for the vinegar experiment to a half full balloon. At least we tried the experiment.