Question
27. The chemical reaction shown below takes place in a closed system. What is true about the system while the reaction occurs? 1 point The following diagram represents the reaction of methane with oxygen gas to form carbon dioxide and water. The total mass of the particles in the system stays the same. The total mass of the particles in the system decreases. The total mass of the particles in the system increases. The total number of particles in the system increases.
Answer
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Roger
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Answer
The question describes a chemical reaction where methane (CH4) reacts with oxygen gas (O2) to form carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). This is a combustion reaction and can be represented by the following balanced chemical equation:CH4 + 2O2 → CO2 + 2H2OAccording to the Law of Conservation of Mass, the mass of the reactants in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the products when the reaction occurs in a closed system. This means that no matter is lost or gained during the reaction; it is simply rearranged to form new substances.Given the options provided:- The total mass of the particles in the system stays the same: This is true because of the Law of Conservation of Mass.- The total mass of the particles in the system decreases: This is not true because mass cannot be lost in a closed system during a chemical reaction.- The total mass of the particles in the system increases: This is not true because mass cannot be gained in a closed system during a chemical reaction.- The total number of particles in the system increases: This statement can be misleading. While the number of molecules may change, the number of atoms remains the same, and this does not affect the total mass. However, if we interpret "particles" as molecules, then in this particular reaction, the number of product molecules (3) is less than the number of reactant molecules (3), so this statement would not be true.The correct answer is:The total mass of the particles in the system stays the same.