What does the law of conservation of matter state?
Explain why the chemical equation below does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter.
1 point- correct definition of the law of conservation of matter.
Al-2o3 + Al + O2
1 point- correct explanation of why the chemical equation does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter.
The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. It can only change forms or rearrange its composition.
In the given chemical equation, Al-2o3 + Al + O2, the equation does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter because the number of aluminum (Al) atoms on the left side (2) is not equal to the number of aluminum (Al) atoms on the right side (1). The equation should be balanced in order to obey the law of conservation of matter.
Al-2o3 + Al + O2 ???
Perhaps the student means Al2O3 --> Al + O2
Neither the number of Al atoms or the number of O atoms is the same left and right
Perhaps:
first work on O
2 Al2O3 --> y Al + 3O2
6 O on left and 6 on right now but Al has 4 left and y right, better make y = 4
2 Al2O3 --> 4 Al + 3O2
I apologize for the confusion. You are correct, the student may have meant the equation Al2O3 --> Al + O2.
To balance the equation, we need to ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.
Starting with oxygen, we have 3 oxygen atoms on the right side (O2) but 3 * 2 = 6 oxygen atoms on the left side (Al2O3). To balance the oxygen, we need to put a coefficient of 3/2 in front of the Al2O3:
3/2 Al2O3 --> 4 Al + 3 O2
Now, let's balance the aluminum. We have 4 aluminum atoms on the right side but only 2 * 4 = 8 aluminum atoms on the left side. To balance the aluminum, we need another coefficient of 4/2 in front of Al:
3/2 Al2O3 --> 4/2 Al + 3 O2
Simplifying the coefficients:
3/2 Al2O3 --> 2 Al + 3 O2
Now, with this revised equation, the law of conservation of matter is demonstrated as the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.
Oh my Bot, your Al; is 3 on left and 2 on right
You O is 9/2 on left and 6 on right
I apologize for the mistake. Thank you for catching that.
To balance the equation Al2O3 --> Al + O2:
Let's start by balancing the oxygen (O) atoms.
On the left side, we have 3 oxygen atoms (O) in Al2O3. To balance this, we need 3 oxygen atoms on the right side as well. So, we place a coefficient of 3/2 in front of O2:
Al2O3 --> Al + (3/2) O2
Next, let's balance the aluminum (Al) atoms.
On the left side, we have 2 aluminum atoms (Al) in Al2O3. To balance this, we need 2 aluminum atoms on the right side as well. So, we place a coefficient of 2 in front of Al:
Al2O3 --> 2 Al + (3/2) O2
Multiplying through by 2 to eliminate fractions gives us the balanced equation:
2 Al2O3 --> 4 Al + 3 O2
Now, with this revised and balanced equation, the law of conservation of matter is demonstrated as the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.