Suppose 20 atoms of hydrogen (H) react with chlorine (Cl) to produce 20 molecules of hydrochloric acid (HCl). According to the law of conservation of matter, how many atoms of chlorine reacted with the hydrogen?(1 point)
Responses
A.40
B.10
C.0
D.20
To determine how many atoms of chlorine reacted with the hydrogen, we need to examine the balanced chemical equation for the reaction between hydrogen and chlorine. The equation is as follows:
H2 + Cl2 -> 2 HCl
From this equation, we can see that two molecules of hydrochloric acid are produced for every one molecule of chlorine that reacts with two molecules of hydrogen.
Given that 20 molecules of hydrochloric acid were produced, we can conclude that half of that number, or 10 molecules of chlorine, reacted with the hydrogen.
However, the question specifically asks for the number of atoms, not molecules. In every molecule of chlorine gas (Cl2), there are two chlorine atoms. So, by multiplying the number of chlorine molecules (10) by the number of chlorine atoms in each molecule (2), we can find the total number of chlorine atoms that reacted with the hydrogen.
10 molecules of Cl * 2 Cl atoms/molecule = 20 Cl atoms
Therefore, the correct answer is D. 20 atoms.
To determine the number of chlorine atoms that reacted with the hydrogen, we need to examine the chemical equation for the reaction between hydrogen (H) and chlorine (Cl) to form hydrochloric acid (HCl). The equation is as follows:
H₂ + Cl₂ → 2HCl
From the equation, we can see that each molecule of hydrochloric acid (HCl) is formed from one molecule of hydrogen (H₂) and one molecule of chlorine (Cl₂). This means that for every two atoms of hydrogen, we need two atoms of chlorine.
Since we have given that 20 molecules of hydrochloric acid (HCl) are produced, we can infer that there were also 10 molecules of hydrogen (H₂) involved in the reaction (since each molecule of hydrochloric acid requires two molecules of hydrogen).
Therefore, according to the law of conservation of matter, there must have been an equal number of atoms of chlorine (Cl) involved in the reaction. As each molecule of chlorine (Cl₂) contains two atoms of chlorine, this means that there were 10 molecules of chlorine or 20 atoms of chlorine involved.
Hence, the correct answer is D. 20.