Chapter 27: Problem 17

What general statement can be made about the sum of the charges on both sides of a balanced chemical reaction?

Short Answer

Expert verified

The general statement about the sum of charges on both sides of a balanced chemical reaction is that the total charge of the reactants is equal to the total charge of the products.

Step by step solution

Understanding Charge Conservation in Chemical Reactions

In any chemical reaction, the total charges of all the reactants (the molecules before the reaction) must be conserved and equal to the total charges of all the products (the molecules after the reaction). This is an application of the law of charge conservation, which states that the total charge in any isolated system will remain constant over time. In other words, charges can't disappear or appear out of nowhere, they can only be transferred from one entity to another.

Forming a General Statement

Based on the law of charge conservation, the general statement that can be made about the sum of charges on both sides of a balanced chemical reaction is: In a balanced chemical reaction, the total charge of the reactants is equal to the total charge of the products.

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What general statement can be made about the sum of the charges on both sides of a balanced chemical reaction?

Short Answer

Step by step solution

Understanding Charge Conservation in Chemical Reactions

Forming a General Statement

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