Chapter 7, Problem 50A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:

The false statement regarding chemical reactions need to be identified from the given options.

Concept Introduction:

• A chemical reaction is expressed as a chemical equation having reactants and products on left and right side of the reaction arrow respectively.

  $\text{Reactants }\to \text{ Products}$

• It also gives the physical state (solid (s), liquid (l), gas (g)) and the amount of reactants and products involved in the reaction

Answer to Problem 50A

Statement (a) is false statement.

Explanation of Solution

a)

For a chemical reaction, the subscript associated with an element gives the number of atoms of that element. When balancing an equation it is important only for the total number of atoms of each element to be conserved irrespective of the subscript.

Therefore, statement (a) is false.

b)

When one coefficient is doubled, the coefficients associated with other elements or molecules should also be doubled to correctly balance the equation. Therefore, statement (b) is true.

c) In a chemical reaction, atoms are neither created nor destroyed. The atoms in the reactants combine appropriately to form the products. Therefore, statement (c) is true.

d) In a chemical reaction the total number of each type of atom must be conserved on the reactant and product side. Therefore, statement (d) is true.

Conclusion

Therefore, while balancing a chemical reaction it is not necessary for the subscripts to be conserved.