A chemist is trying to get two substances to react, but he is unsuccessful. He knows that the two substances should react with one another. Which of the following could he do to possibly get the substances to react? (Select all that apply)
a
crush up one of the substances
b
cool the substances
c
decrease the concentration of one of the substances
d
increase the concentration of one of the substances
e
heat the substances
a) crush up one of the substances
c) decrease the concentration of one of the substances
d) increase the concentration of one of the substances
e) heat the substances
To possibly get the substances to react, the chemist could do the following:
a) Crush up one of the substances: By increasing the surface area of the substance, the reactants will have more opportunities to come into contact with each other, promoting reaction.
c) Decrease the concentration of one of the substances: Lowering the concentration of a reactant can create a concentration gradient, driving the reaction forward.
d) Increase the concentration of one of the substances: Increasing the concentration of a reactant can shift the equilibrium towards product formation, promoting the reaction.
e) Heat the substances: Increasing the temperature typically provides more energy to reactant molecules, increasing their kinetic energy and collision frequency, thus promoting the reaction.
To potentially get the substances to react, the chemist could consider the following options:
a) Crush up one of the substances: Increasing the surface area of a solid substance can enhance its reactivity since more particles will be exposed to potential reactions.
b) Cool the substances: Lowering the temperature can sometimes slow down reactions or stabilize reactive compounds, which may allow for a more controlled reaction between the substances.
c) Decrease the concentration of one of the substances: By diluting one of the reactants, there will be fewer particles available for the reaction. This can affect the reaction rate and potentially provide conditions for the reaction to occur.
d) Increase the concentration of one of the substances: Conversely, increasing the concentration of a reactant can provide more reactant particles leading to an increased chance of collisions and reaction.
e) Heat the substances: By raising the temperature, the kinetic energy of the particles increases, increasing the chances of successful collisions and potentially facilitating the reaction.
Therefore, the chemist could potentially choose options a), b), c), d), and e) to further his chances of getting the substances to react.