Na2O + HCl -> NaCl + H2O Does this equation satisfy the Law of Conservation of Matter? Why or why not? A) Yes, since there are 5 reactant atoms and 5 product atoms. Eliminate B) Yes, since there is a subscript of 2 on both sides on the equation. C) No, since there are two sodium atoms as reactants, but only one sodium atom as a product. D) No, since there is a liquid and a solid as reactants, but a gas and a solid as a product

B) Yes, since there is a subscript of 2 on both sides of the equation.

To satisfy the Law of Conservation of Matter, an equation must have the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation. In the given equation:

\( \text{Na}_2\text{O} + \text{HCl} \rightarrow \text{NaCl} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)

Let's count the atoms of each element in the reactants and products:

- Sodium (Na): There are 2 sodium atoms on the reactant side (because of Na_2O), but only 1 shown on the product side in NaCl. - Chlorine (Cl): There is 1 chlorine atom on both the reactant and product sides. - Oxygen (O): There is 1 oxygen atom on both the reactant and product sides. - Hydrogen (H): There are 1 hydrogen atoms on the reactant side and 2 in the product side (because of H2O).

Looking at this count, it may seem like the answer is C because there appears to be an imbalance in the number of sodium atoms. However, the equation as written is not balanced. The correct balanced equation would be:

\( \text{Na}_2\text{O} + 2\text{HCl} \rightarrow 2\text{NaCl} + \text{H}_2\text{O} \)

With the balanced equation, we can now see that:

- Sodium (Na): 2 sodium atoms in the reactants (in Na2O) and 2 sodium atoms in the products (because there are 2 molecules of NaCl).

- Chlorine (Cl): 2 chlorine atoms in the reactants (2 molecules of HCl) and 2 chlorine atoms in the products (again because of the 2 molecules of NaCl). - Oxygen (O): 1 oxygen atom in the reactants and 1 oxygen atom in the products. - Hydrogen (H): 2 hydrogen atoms in the reactants and 2 hydrogen atoms in the products.

Thus, with the correct coefficients to balance the equation, the Law of Conservation of Matter is satisfied.

Extra: The Law of Conservation of Matter states that in any given closed system, matter can neither be created nor destroyed, only transformed. That means in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products. When balancing chemical equations, we ensure that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation to satisfy this law.

It's important to note that states of matter (solid, liquid, gas) do not play a role in the conservation of matter; it is only the count and type of atoms that matter, not their physical states. When balancing an equation, one must tweak the coefficients (the numbers before molecules), not the subscripts (the numbers after atoms), as changing subscripts would change the compounds involved in the reaction. In the example above, a coefficient of 2 before HCl and NaCl was necessary to achieve balance, while the subscripts of the compounds remain unchanged.