Don has two liquids in two separate containers. He mixes the liquids and suddenly notices a very sharp smell in the air.

Question

What indicates a chemical reaction in this scenario?

Responses

The sharp smell may indicate a temperature increase.
The sharp smell may indicate a temperature increase.

The sharp smell may indicate the formation of a new gas.
The sharp smell may indicate the formation of a new gas.

The sharp smell may indicate the formation of a precipitate.
The sharp smell may indicate the formation of a precipitate.

The sharp smell may indicate a temperature decrease

Answer 1

In this scenario, the sharp smell primarily indicates that a chemical reaction has occurred and that a new substance may have formed. The most appropriate response would be:

The sharp smell may indicate the formation of a new gas.

This is because the release of gases is often associated with chemical reactions, particularly those that produce volatile compounds that lead to noticeable odors.