Chapter 5, Problem 23P

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The given molecular art should be identified as chemical reaction or physical change.

Concept introduction:

Chemical reaction is process when one or more substances get converted to different products. These substances can be elements or compounds. In chemical reaction, the atoms of the reactants break down and react with the other individual elements to form new products. Through this process there is change in the identity of the substance.

Physical change is brought about by changing the physical nature of the substance without changing the composition.

Answer to Problem 23P

From the art pictorial representation, it is said to be a chemical change.

Explanation of Solution

Given:

  

For the given molecular art, let the red balls represent oxygen atom and black balls represents carbon atoms.

Thus, in the reactant side of the molecular art, there are 3 atoms of O combine together forming ozone, O₃ and one atom of O combine with one atom of C forming carbon monoxide, CO whereas in the product side of the molecular art, there are two atoms of O combined together to form dioxygen, O₂ and two atoms of O combine with one atom of C forming carbon dioxide, CO₂.

The equation is written as:

  ${\text{O}}_{\text{3}}\text{+CO}\to {\text{O}}_{\text{2}}{\text{+CO}}_{\text{2}}$

Since, no two substances formed at product side are similar to the initial substance on the reactant side. So, the change is chemical.

The reaction is balanced as the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side and product side are equal.

Conclusion

The picture depiction indicates that it is a chemical change as there is changes in the identity and alteration of the composition.