Water, a compound, has different properties compared to those of the elements oxygen and hydrogen from which it is formed. Justify this statement.
Water is a compound formed by the chemical combination of hydrogen and oxygen in a fixed ratio of 2:1.
Hydrogen is a highly flammable gas that burns with a pop sound, and oxygen supports combustion vigorously.
However, water extinguishes fire and is essential for life.
This happens because when elements combine chemically to form a compound, the resulting substance has completely different properties from its constituent elements.
The particles of hydrogen and oxygen are tightly attached to each other in water, making it impossible to separate them by physical methods.
Explanation
The chapter explains that 'Compounds are formed when different elements combine in fixed ratios to form something entirely new. The properties of compounds are different from those of elements forming that compound.' Activity 8.3 demonstrates that water decomposes into hydrogen (which burns with a pop sound) and oxygen (which makes a candle glow brighter), showing how different water's properties are from its constituent elements.
Solution Steps
Water is a compound formed by the chemical combination of hydrogen and oxygen in a fixed ratio of 2:1
Hydrogen is highly flammable and burns with a pop sound; oxygen supports combustion vigorously
Water has completely different properties – it extinguishes fire and is essential for life
When elements combine chemically to form a compound, the resulting substance has different properties from its constituent elements
The particles of hydrogen and oxygen are tightly attached in water and cannot be separated by physical methods