Chapter U4.1, Problem 1E

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation:The difference between a reactant and product needs to be explained.

Concept Introduction: Matter can be involved in two types changes; physical and chemical changes.

A physical change is associated with change in the physical state of the substance whereas the chemical composition remains same.

A chemical change is associated with the change in the chemical composition of the substance. A new substance is formed in a chemical change.

Answer to Problem 1E

A reactant molecule is involved in a chemical reaction whereas a product molecule is formed during the chemical reaction.

  $\text{reactant}\to product$

Explanation of Solution

Given information: There must be some difference between reactant and product.

The chemical change can be represented with the help of chemical equation. Chemical equation is the symbolic representation of a chemical change in which the chemical formula of the substances is written with their physical states.

The substances which involve in a chemical reaction are called as reactant molecules whereas the newly formed substances are called as product. Thus a chemical reaction can be written as:

  $\text{reactant}\to product$

For example, reaction of Mg with oxygen results the formation of magnesium oxide. The reaction equation can be written as:

  ${\text{2Mg}}_{\text{(s)}}{\text{ + O}}_{\text{2(g)}}\stackrel{}{\to }{\text{2 MgO}}_{\text{(s)}}$

Here , ${\text{Mg}}_{\text{(s)}}$ and ${\text{O}}_{\text{2(g)}}$ are reactant molecules and ${\text{O}}_{\text{2(g)}}$ is product molecule.

Conclusion

In a chemical reaction, reactant molecules changes to product molecules.