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Chapter 7: Problem 28

When a chemical drain opener is added to a clogged sink, bubbles form and the water in the sink gets warmer. Has a chemical reaction occurred? Explain your answer.

Short Answer

Expert verified
Yes, a chemical reaction has occurred, indicated by the formation of bubbles and an increase in water temperature.

Step by step solution

01

Identification of Chemical Reaction Indicators

Determine if indicators of a chemical reaction are present. These may include changes in temperature, color, formation of a gas (bubbles), or the formation of a precipitate.
02

Analysis of Observations

Analyze the observations: Bubbles indicate a gas is being produced and an increase in temperature suggests an exothermic reaction.
03

Conclusion Based on Observations

Since there is gas formation and a temperature change, a chemical reaction has indeed taken place.

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

Indicators of Chemical Reaction
When trying to determine whether a chemical reaction has occurred, certain observable changes can act as indicators. These include:
  • Change in temperature: A reaction may release or absorb heat, leading to a temperature change in the surrounding environment or reactants.
  • Color change: Compounds may change color as new substances with different properties are formed.
  • Formation of gas: Bubbles or fizzing indicate the production of a gas during the reaction process.
  • Formation of a precipitate: A solid that forms out of solution—a precipitate—signifies a chemical change.

Exemplified by the provided exercise, the formation of bubbles and the increase in water temperature when a chemical drain opener is used confirm that a chemical reaction has taken place.
Exothermic Reactions
Exothermic reactions are types of chemical reactions that release energy, usually in the form of heat, to the surrounding environment, hence the term 'exo' meaning 'outwards'. This is often felt as warming or an increase in temperature of the reactants or surroundings. When a drain opener is used, the water gets warmer due to the exothermic nature of the reaction occurring.

Common examples of exothermic reactions include combustion, such as a burning candle, and many acid-base neutralizations. Understanding exothermic reactions is crucial not only in chemistry but also in real-world applications like heating technologies and in the formulation of various consumer products.
Chemical Reaction Analysis
To analyze a chemical reaction, chemists observe physical and chemical changes and apply their knowledge of chemical behaviors. This analysis allows them to identify the reactants and products, as well as to hypothesize about the reaction mechanisms.
  • Physical changes may include alterations in the phase of matter, temperature, or volume.
  • Chemical changes might involve the creation of new substances with different compositions.

In the exercise, the observation of gas production and temperature increase would prompt a chemist to consider the reactants' chemical properties, possible interactions, and the end products to understand the reaction fully. This thought process is integral to the scientific approach in studying chemistry.
Observation in Chemistry
Observation is a fundamental skill in chemistry that involves monitoring a system before, during, and after a reaction. It is the first step in identifying what changes occur as a reaction progresses. Accurate observation can provide critical information about the chemical processes taking place.

For example, in the exercise about the drain opener, observing the water's temperature change and the formation of bubbles are crucial pieces of evidence that indicate an ongoing chemical process. By developing good observation skills, chemistry students can enhance their ability to understand and predict the behaviors of different substances in reaction settings.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Write balanced complete ionic and net ionic equations for each reaction. (a) \(\mathrm{AgNO}_{3}(a q)+\mathrm{KCl}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{AgCl}(s)+\mathrm{KNO}_{3}(a q)\) (b) \(\mathrm{CaS}(a q)+\mathrm{CuCl}_{2}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{CuS}(s)+\mathrm{CaCl}_{2}(a q)\) (c) \(\mathrm{NaOH}(a q)+\mathrm{HNO}_{3}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l)+\mathrm{NaNO}_{3}(a q)\) (d) \(2 \mathrm{~K}_{3} \mathrm{PO}_{4}(a q)+3 \mathrm{NiCl}_{2}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Ni}_{3}\left(\mathrm{PO}_{4}\right)_{2}(s)+6 \mathrm{KCl}(a q)\)

What is a redox reaction? Give an example.

Write a balanced chemical equation for the reaction of gaseous nitrogen dioxide with hydrogen gas to form gaseous ammonia and liquid water.

Consider the unbalanced chemical equation. $$ \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \underset{\text { electrical current }}{\longrightarrow} \mathrm{H}_{2}(g)+\mathrm{O}_{2}(g) $$ A chemistry student tries to balance the equation by placing the subscript 2 after the oxygen atom in \(\mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}\). Explain why this is not correct. What is the correct balanced equation?

Classify each reaction in as many ways as possible. (a) \(\mathrm{NaCl}(a q)+\mathrm{AgNO}_{3}(a q) \longrightarrow\) \(\mathrm{AgCl}(s)+\mathrm{NaNO}_{3}(a q)\) (b) \(2 \mathrm{Rb}(s)+\mathrm{Br}_{2}(g) \longrightarrow 2 \mathrm{RbBr}(s)\) (c) \(\mathrm{Zn}(s)+\mathrm{NiBr}_{2}(a q) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Ni}(s)+\mathrm{ZnBr}_{2}(a q)\) (d) \(\mathrm{Ca}(s)+2 \mathrm{H}_{2} \mathrm{O}(l) \longrightarrow \mathrm{Ca}(\mathrm{OH})_{2}(a q)+\mathrm{H}_{2}(g)\)
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