Question

The substances sodium (Na), oxygen (O2), and sodium oxide (Na2O) participate in this chemical reaction: 4Na + O2 ? 2Na2O. Which statement best describes the reaction? A. Elements rearrange, but no compounds are created or destroyed. B. Sodium oxide is created by the chemical reaction. C. Atoms from sodium oxide rearrange to form sodium and oxygen. D. In a mixture of the three substances, sodium oxide separates from the sodium and oxygen.

Answer 1

Here we have to choose the best statement, among the given, in the chemical reaction between the substance sodium (Na) and oxygen (O₂) to form Na₂O.

The suitable statement is sodium oxide is created by the B. chemical reaction.

The reaction between Na and O₂ is 4Na + O₂ = 2Na₂O.

The compound Na₂O is entirely is a new compound and not generated by the rearrangement of the reactant. Here the sodium and oxygen is destroyed and forms Na₂O.

There is no separate atoms in Na₂O it is a compound made by the two atoms Na and O₂.

In a mixture of the three substances sodium oxide can be separated from Na and O₂ but it depends upon the physical property of the reactant and product. If the reactant and product both are in gaseous state they cannot be separated by any physical methods.