Question
CH3COOH + NaOH -> CH3COONa + H2O
Statement that best describes chemical reaction and how it relates to the law of conservation of mass
Statement that best describes chemical reaction and how it relates to the law of conservation of mass
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The chemical reaction between acetic acid (CH₃COOH) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) to produce sodium acetate (CH₃COONa) and water (H₂O) is a neutralization reaction.
This reaction can be described as follows:
1. **Reactants and Products**: In this reaction, one molecule of acetic acid and one molecule of sodium hydroxide react to form one molecule of sodium acetate and one molecule of water.
2. **Balanced Equation**: The balanced equation for this reaction is:
\[
\text{CH}_3\text{COOH} + \text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} + \text{H}_2\text{O}
\]
3. **Law of Conservation of Mass**: This reaction exemplifies the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system. In this case, the total number of atoms of each element on the reactant side (left) is equal to the total number of atoms of those elements on the product side (right). Specifically:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms on both sides (2 from CH₃COOH and CH₃COONa)
- Hydrogen (H): 4 atoms on both sides (4 from CH₃COOH and NaOH and 2 from H₂O)
- Oxygen (O): 4 atoms on both sides (2 from CH₃COOH and 1 from NaOH, giving 3 for products)
- Sodium (Na): 1 atom on both sides
Therefore, the reaction is a clear example of how chemical reactions obey the law of conservation of mass, as the total number of each type of atom remains constant throughout the reaction.
This reaction can be described as follows:
1. **Reactants and Products**: In this reaction, one molecule of acetic acid and one molecule of sodium hydroxide react to form one molecule of sodium acetate and one molecule of water.
2. **Balanced Equation**: The balanced equation for this reaction is:
\[
\text{CH}_3\text{COOH} + \text{NaOH} \rightarrow \text{CH}_3\text{COONa} + \text{H}_2\text{O}
\]
3. **Law of Conservation of Mass**: This reaction exemplifies the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system. In this case, the total number of atoms of each element on the reactant side (left) is equal to the total number of atoms of those elements on the product side (right). Specifically:
- Carbon (C): 2 atoms on both sides (2 from CH₃COOH and CH₃COONa)
- Hydrogen (H): 4 atoms on both sides (4 from CH₃COOH and NaOH and 2 from H₂O)
- Oxygen (O): 4 atoms on both sides (2 from CH₃COOH and 1 from NaOH, giving 3 for products)
- Sodium (Na): 1 atom on both sides
Therefore, the reaction is a clear example of how chemical reactions obey the law of conservation of mass, as the total number of each type of atom remains constant throughout the reaction.