Log out Go to App
Go to App

Learning Materials

Features

Discover

Chapter 8: Problem 24

Describe how you would explain to someone how a chemical reaction changes one set of compounds into another.

Short Answer

Expert verified
To explain how a chemical reaction changes one set of compounds into another, I would introduce the concept of a chemical reaction as a process in which reactants are transformed into products due to the rearrangement of atoms. I would then discuss the law of conservation of mass, which states that the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. Using the example of hydrogen gas and oxygen gas reacting to form water, I would explain how atoms from the reactants break their bonds and rearrange to form new bonds, resulting in the formation of the product. It's important to ensure that the chemical equation is balanced to uphold the conservation of mass.

Step by step solution

01

Introducing chemical reactions

A chemical reaction is a process in which one or more substances, called reactants, are transformed into one or more different substances, known as products. Chemical reactions occur due to the rearrangement of atoms that form new bonds, ultimately changing the properties of the original substances.
02

Understanding reactants and products

In a chemical reaction, reactants are the substances that undergo change, and products are the resulting substances formed after the reaction. Reactants and products can be elements or compounds, and they are represented using chemical formulas. It's essential to understand that during a chemical reaction, the atoms that were present in the reactants are still present in the products - only the arrangement of these atoms changes.
03

Conservation of mass in chemical reactions

The law of conservation of mass states that the total mass of the reactants is equal to the total mass of the products in a chemical reaction. This means that no atoms are created or destroyed during a chemical reaction - they are merely rearranged. It's important to ensure that the chemical equation representing the reaction is balanced, meaning that the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side is equal to the number of atoms of the same element on the product side.
04

Using a simple chemical reaction as an example

Let's consider a simple chemical reaction between hydrogen gas (H₂) and oxygen gas (O₂) to form water (H₂O). This reaction can be represented by the chemical equation: \(2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O\). In this reaction, the reactants are hydrogen gas and oxygen gas, and the product is water. Notice that the number of atoms for each element (hydrogen and oxygen) is the same on both sides of the equation, ensuring that the conservation of mass is upheld.
05

Explaining the rearrangement of atoms in a chemical reaction

During the hydrogen and oxygen reaction, the hydrogen and oxygen molecules break their bonds and rearrange themselves to form new bonds, producing water molecules. Each hydrogen molecule consists of two hydrogen atoms, and each oxygen molecule consists of two oxygen atoms. When the reactants collide with enough energy, their bonds break, allowing new bonds to form between the hydrogen and oxygen atoms. In this case, two water molecules are formed, each consisting of two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom, resulting in the formation of the new product.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Start your free trial

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

The \(\quad\) ionic equation for a reaction is obtained by canceling the spectator ions in the ionic equation.

(a) True or false? It is possible for a reaction to be simultaneously a single-replacement reaction and a combination reaction. (b) True or false? It is possible for a reaction to be simultaneously a double-replacement reaction and a neutralization reaction. If either statement is false, explain why.

Aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and potassium carbonate are combined. Does a precipitate form? If yes, write a net ionic equation for the precipitation reaction.

Aqueous solutions of sodium sulfide and iron(III) nitrate are combined. (a) Does a precipitation reaction occur? Explain. (b) If it does, write a net ionic equation for the reaction.

Aqueous solutions of calcium chloride and potassium carbonate are combined. (a) Write the formulas for both reactants. (b) Does a precipitation reaction occur? Explain. (c) If it does, write a net ionic equation for the reaction.
See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Chemistry Textbooks

Physical Chemistry

Read Explanation

Nuclear Chemistry

Read Explanation

Chemistry Branches

Read Explanation

Kinetics

Read Explanation

Making Measurements

Read Explanation

Organic Chemistry

Read Explanation
View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free