Question

Scientific Background:

A chemistry student used powdered laundry detergent, sodium carbonate
(Na2CO3), when washing clothes. She accidentally poured Epsom salt,
magnesium sulfate (MgSO4), into the washing machine along with the laundry
detergent. The student noticed changes when both substances were added in the
water.
O
Laundry Day
S
Writing Task:
Construct an argument explaining if the student observed a chemical reaction.
In your essay, be certain to:
Use the student's observations to determine if a chemical reaction occurred.
Justify your reasoning.
Identify the reactants and products for the reaction in the washing machine.
Explain what the (aq) and (s) represent in the reaction equation.
• Explain the type of chemical reaction that occurred in the washing machine.
Justify your reasoning.
(Documents A through D are related to this Writing Task.) useing the RACES FORMAT

Answer 1

Explanation:

RACES FORMAT:

R - Restate the task

A - Answer the question

C - Cite evidence

E - Explain your reasoning

S - Summarize your argument

Task: Construct an argument explaining if the student observed a chemical reaction.

Answer: Yes, the student observed a chemical reaction when both substances were added to the washing machine.

Cite evidence: The student noticed changes in the water when she added both powdered laundry detergent (Na2CO3) and Epsom salt (MgSO4) to the washing machine.

Explain your reasoning: The changes observed by the student suggest that a chemical reaction occurred between the two substances. The addition of Epsom salt to the laundry detergent likely caused a chemical reaction due to the interaction between the magnesium sulfate and sodium carbonate.

Identify the reactants and products for the reaction in the washing machine: The reactants are sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and magnesium sulfate (MgSO4). The products produced by the reaction might be sodium sulfate (Na2SO4) and magnesium carbonate (MgCO3).

Explain what the (aq) and (s) represent in the reaction equation: The (aq) represents an aqueous solution, meaning a substance that is dissolved in water. The (s) represents a solid substance in the reaction.

Explain the type of chemical reaction that occurred in the washing machine: The type of chemical reaction that occurred in the washing machine was a double-displacement reaction. This is because the reactants switched places with each other to form new compounds as the products.

Justify your reasoning: The changes observed by the student could only have been brought about by a chemical reaction. A double-displacement reaction occurred between the magnesium sulfate and sodium carbonate, leading to the formation of new compounds in the solution. Therefore, it can be concluded that a chemical reaction did occur in the washing machine when both substances were added.

Summarize your argument: In summary, the student observed a chemical reaction when Epsom salt and laundry detergent were added to the washing machine together. This is evidenced by the changes in the water, which suggest that a double-displacement reaction occurred between sodium carbonate and magnesium sulfate. The products of the reaction could be sodium sulfate and magnesium carbonate.