Chapter 15, Problem 1TE

A cat strolls your backyard. An hour later, a dog with its nose to the ground follows the trail of the cat. Explain what is occurring from a molecular point of view.

To determine

The occurrence in the backyard from the molecular point of view.

Answer to Problem 1TE

The dog follows cat by its nose to the ground because the atoms remain present at the ground due to the molecular exchange of the atoms inside and outside the cat.

Explanation of Solution

Every living entity inhales many atoms of the oxygen during breathing and simultaneously exhales many atoms of the oxygen. The oxygen molecule that is inside a human goes inside another human due to exhaling of the air from one human and inhalation of oxygen atom by the other human.

The cats inhale the oxygen atom during breathing and also exhale the oxygen atoms. The dog actually follows the exhaled oxygen atom by the cat by its nose to trail the cat. The dog follows the cat by molecules left by the cat in the atmosphere.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the dog follows cat by its nose to the ground because the atoms remain present at the ground due to the molecular exchange of the atoms inside and outside the cat.