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When a bag containing mothballs is opened, mothballs’ molecules go through the following change.Which of the following is the correct question to ask to determine what kind of change the molecules experienced?A. How has the size of the molecules changed?B. How much has the temperature of the molecules changed?C. What is the position of the molecules relative to each other?D. Is this change in the molecules reversible by placing the mothballs back in their bag?

When a bag containing mothballs is opened, mothballs’ molecules go through the following-example-1
User Sarah Rose
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1 Answer

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Mothballs are made of naphtalene. The chemical structure of naphthalene is formed by two benzene rings, which gives this substance the classification of an aromatic compound.

The active principle of naphthalene is explained by a very interesting physical characteristic: sublimation, which is defined as the direct transition from a solid to a gaseous state. Once sublimated, naphthalene appears as a toxic vapor for undesirable microorganisms.

So, when a bag of mothballs is opened, they will sublime. So the molecules will not be able to come back to the bag, because they're in the gaseous state, which is too difficult for us to "pick up" the molecules of mothballs again and place them in their bag again.

It is like picking up water vapor, it is impossible.

Answer: Alternative "D"

User Gresolio
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