Each of the following statements is true, but Dalton might have had trouble explaining some of them with his atomic theory. Give explanations for the following statements. a. The space-filling models for ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether are shown below. These two compounds have the same composition by mass $(52 \% \text { carbon, } 13 \% \text { hydrogen, and } 35 \% \text { oxygen }),$ yet the two have different melting points, boiling points, and solubilities in water. b. Burning wood leaves an ash that is only a small fraction of the mass of the original wood. c. Atoms can be broken down into smaller particles. d. One sample of lithium hydride is 87.4\(\%\) lithium by mass, while another sample of lithium hydride is 74.9\(\%\) lithium by mass. However, the two samples have the same chemical properties.

Step by step solution

01

Statement a: Dissimilar Properties despite Same Composition

Ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether have the same mass percentage of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. However, the arrangements of atoms in these two compounds are different. This leads to the formation of different types of intermolecular forces between their molecules, which in turn results in different melting points, boiling points, and solubilities in water. In ethyl alcohol, there is a hydroxyl group (-OH) that can form hydrogen bonds, while dimethyl ether does not have this group, so it is only able to form weaker dipole-dipole interactions. The ability to form hydrogen bonds in ethyl alcohol gives it different physical properties compared to those of dimethyl ether.

02

Statement b: Burning Wood Produces Ash

When wood burns, a chemical reaction called combustion occurs. During combustion, the carbon, hydrogen and other elements in wood combine with oxygen in the air to form carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases. The mass of the produced gases is much greater than the mass of the ash that remains after the combustion. The mass of the original wood appears to decrease significantly because the majority of the mass is converted into gaseous products that escape into the atmosphere.

03

Statement c: Atoms Can Be Broken into Smaller Particles

Although Dalton's atomic theory initially assumed that atoms were indivisible, later discoveries showed that they can in fact be broken down into smaller particles. Atoms consist of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons, and electrons orbiting around the nucleus. These subatomic particles (protons, neutrons, and electrons) can be separated from each other through various techniques and transformations, such as nuclear reactions or ionizing radiation.

04

Statement d: Different Mass Percentages, Same Chemical Properties

In this statement, two samples of lithium hydride with different mass percentages of lithium are given. However, they still exhibit the same chemical properties because their chemical composition and structure are the same. The difference in mass percentages might be due to the presence of impurities or an error in the stated percentages/data. The chemical properties of a substance are determined by the type and arrangement of the atoms involved, not by the exact mass percentages of the elements present. In both samples, lithium hydride has the same chemical structure, leading to the same chemical properties.

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