A student is conducting a chemical reaction between hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃). The balanced equation for this reaction is:

HCl + NaHCO₃ → NaCl + CO₂ + H₂O

If the student starts with 0.50 moles of HCl and an excess amount of NaHCO₃, how many moles of carbon dioxide (CO₂) will be produced?