Question

Label each of the following changes as a physical change or chemical change. Give evidence to support your answer.

A catalytic converter changes nitrogen dioxide to nitrogen gas and oxygen gas

Answer 1

A catalytic converter changes nitrogen dioxide to nitrogen gas and oxygen gas is a chemical change.

Step-by-step explanation:

Hello.

In this case, since physical changes do not modify the molecular composition and structure of the material undergoing it whereas the chemical change does, for catalytic converters we should know they promote chemical reaction in which the composition is changed; for instance, for the given example, the following chemical reaction is the evidence:

`2NO_2\rightarrow N_2+O_2`

As you can see, nitrogen and oxygen are no longer bonded but separated by themselves, therefore, this is a chemical change.

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