Use this chemical equation to answer the following questions: Cl + O3 ➞ ClO + O2

1. What are the elements in this reaction?

2. Is this equation balanced?

3. In this equation how does Ozone (O3) change when it reacts with Cl?

4. How is matter conserved in this equation?

1. Elements are substances made of the same kind of atoms, unlike compounds that are combination for different kinds of atoms. The elements in the reaction therefore are;

Cl and O₃

2. Yes, the equation is balanced. There is the same number of each element on either side of the equation. One (1) CL and three (3) O atoms.

3. Ozone is reduced. Other the other hand, Cl is oxidized. Remember a reduction reaction may involve the loss of one or more oxygen atoms or the acceptance of electrons. This occurs for O₃ which is reduced to O₂.

4. The equation complies with the conservation of matter as in the first law of thermodynamics. The number of atoms for each element on the other side of the equation remains the same. This means no matter (which also translated to energy) has been created or destroyed in the process.