Question

Does the equation $E=m c^{2}$ apply to chemical reactions?

   Does the equation $E=m c^{2}$ apply to chemical reactions?

Conceptual Physics

Conceptual Physics

Paul G. Hewitt 12th Edition

Chapter 35, Problem 32

Instant Answer

Solved by Expert Jayashree Behera

08/31/2019

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This is the famous equation proposed by Albert Einstein, where $E$ is the energy of an object, $m$ is its mass, and $c$ is the speed of light. This equation states that energy and mass are interchangeable. Show more…

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Does the equation $E=m c^{2}$ apply to chemical reactions?

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Key Concepts

Energy-Mass Equivalence

This concept states that mass and energy are interconvertible, as captured by Einstein’s famous equation E=mc². It is a fundamental principle of physics arising from special relativity, indicating that any change in the energy of a system is accompanied by a corresponding change in its mass, regardless of the type of process involved.

Chemical Reaction Energetics

Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of electrons among atoms and are driven by changes in chemical bond energies. These energy changes, though they abide by the principles of energy conservation and mass-energy equivalence, are generally much smaller in magnitude compared to those in nuclear reactions, resulting in mass changes that are exceedingly tiny and practically undetectable.

Scale of Energy Changes

The scale of energy involved in chemical reactions is minuscule compared to the scale associated with nuclear reactions. While the energy-mass equivalence principle applies universally, the relative size of energy released or absorbed in chemical processes means that the corresponding mass change (mass defect) is so small that it is typically irrelevant for practical chemical analysis or measurements.

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