Chapter 1, Problem 2CO

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

Usefulness of microscopic, macroscopic and symbolic perspectives in understanding a chemical system should be explained.

Concept Introduction

• The characteristics we can see in a system and reactions happen in the system as a whole are the macroscopic qualities.Therefore, observing characteristics of the whole system refers to the macroscopic perspective.
• The characteristics of a single atom or a molecule are considered as microscopic properties. Therefore considering those microscopic properties such as speed, size, energy of individual atoms or molecules; is referred to as microscopic perspective.
• A chemical system consists of atoms. Atom is the smallest unit of a system and it is unimaginably small. Sometimes atoms do not exist alone and form molecules by forming bonds between two or more atoms of the same element or different elements.
• Symbolic Perspective refers to representing atoms, molecules and chemical reactions in a system using symbols.