A chemical reaction is described by the following equation:
[tex]2 K_2 O_{(s)} \rightarrow 4 K_{(s)}+O_{2(g)}[/tex]
What type of reaction is this?
Which of the statements below best describes this reaction?
A. One compound breaks down into two or more substances.
B. Two or more substances combine to form one compound.
C. A hydrocarbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water.
D. One of the elements in a compound is replaced.
E. Two compounds swap "partner" elements with each other.
Answer (2)
The chemical reaction involves a single compound ( K 2 O ) breaking down into multiple substances ( K and O 2 ).
This type of reaction is called a decomposition reaction.
Statement A, 'One compound breaks down into two or more substances,' best describes the reaction.
The correct answer is A.
Explanation
Analyzing the Reaction The given chemical reaction is: 2 K 2 O ( s ) i g h t ha r p oo n u p 4 K ( s ) + O 2 ( g ) . We need to identify the type of reaction and choose the statement that best describes it from the given options.
Identifying the Reaction Type The reaction starts with one compound, K 2 O , and it breaks down into two different substances, K and O 2 . This indicates a decomposition reaction.
Evaluating the Statements Now, let's examine the given statements: A. One compound breaks down into two or more substances. B. Two or more substances combine to form one compound. C. A hydrocarbon combines with oxygen to form carbon dioxide and water. D. One of the elements in a compound is replaced. E. Two compounds swap "partner" elements with each other.
Statement A accurately describes the reaction where one compound ( K 2 O ) breaks down into two or more substances ( K and O 2 ).
Conclusion Therefore, the best description of this reaction is that one compound breaks down into two or more substances.
Examples
Decomposition reactions are commonly used in various industrial processes, such as the extraction of metals from their ores. For example, the decomposition of metal oxides into pure metals and oxygen gas is a crucial step in metallurgy. Understanding decomposition reactions helps in designing efficient processes for obtaining valuable materials from their compounds.
The given reaction is a decomposition reaction where one compound, potassium oxide ( K 2 O ), breaks down into two substances: potassium ( K ) and oxygen gas ( O 2 ). The best description of this reaction is Statement A, which states that one compound breaks down into two or more substances. Thus, the correct answer is A.
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