Chapter 2, Problem 125CP

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.

1. a. The space-filling models for ethyl alcohol and dimethyl ether are shown below.

   

   These two compounds have die same composition by mass (52% carbon, 13% hydrogen, and 35% oxygen), yet the two have different melting points, boiling points, and solubilities in water.

2. b. Burning wood leaves an ash that is only a small fraction of the mass of the original wood.
3. c. Atoms can be broken down into smaller particles.
4. d. One sample of lithium hydride is 87.4% lithium by mass, while another sample of lithium hydride Ls 74.9% lithium by mass. However, the two samples have the same chemical properties.