A chemical equation lists NaHCO3(s) as a reactant. What does (s) indicate?
A. The compound is a solid.
B. The compound is a liquid.
C. The compound is a gas.
D. The compound is dissolved in water.
Answer (2)
The abbreviation '(s)' in a chemical equation indicates that the compound is in the solid state.
NaHCO3(s) means sodium bicarbonate is a solid.
The other options (liquid, gas, dissolved in water) are incorrect.
The correct answer is: The compound is a solid.
Explanation
Understanding the Notation In chemical equations, the state of matter of each substance is indicated using abbreviations in parentheses. The abbreviation '(s)' is used to denote that the substance is in the solid state.
Identifying the Meaning of (s) Therefore, when a chemical equation lists NaHCO3(s) as a reactant, the '(s)' indicates that the sodium bicarbonate is a solid.
Final Answer The correct answer is 'The compound is a solid.'
Examples
Understanding the states of matter in chemical reactions is crucial in many real-world applications. For example, in the production of pharmaceuticals, knowing whether a reactant is a solid, liquid, or gas helps in designing the reaction process and ensuring the desired product is formed efficiently. Similarly, in environmental science, understanding the state of pollutants helps in predicting their behavior and developing strategies for their removal. In cooking, knowing whether an ingredient is a solid, liquid, or gas helps in preparing the dish correctly. For example, baking soda (NaHCO3) is a solid that reacts when heated to produce carbon dioxide gas, which makes cakes rise. The balanced chemical equation for this reaction is: 2 N a H C O 3 ( s ) → N a 2 C O 3 ( s ) + H 2 O ( g ) + C O 2 ( g ) .
The notation '(s)' in a chemical equation indicates that the compound is in the solid state. Therefore, NaHCO3(s) means that sodium bicarbonate is a solid. The correct answer is A: The compound is a solid.
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