A complete change in the appearance of the compound is effected by cooling it.
effected
affected
The correct answer and explanation is:
The correct word in the sentence is “effected.”
Correct sentence:
A complete change in the appearance of the compound is effected by cooling it.
Explanation (Approx. 300 words):
The confusion between “effected” and “affected” is common because the words look similar and are both related to change, but they have distinct meanings and grammatical uses.
1. “Effected” – Verb (past tense of “effect”)
To effect something means to cause it to happen or bring it about. It’s typically used in more formal contexts when referring to producing a result, especially a change.
- Example: The new manager effected several policy changes within the company.
- Meaning: The manager caused or brought about policy changes.
In the sentence, “A complete change in the appearance of the compound is effected by cooling it,” the cooling process causes the change in the compound’s appearance. Thus, “effected” is the correct choice because it indicates that the change was brought about by cooling.
2. “Affected” – Verb (past tense of “affect”)
To affect something means to influence or impact it in some way, often without causing a complete transformation.
- Example: The loud noise affected her concentration.
- Meaning: The noise had an influence on her ability to concentrate.
If you were to use “affected” in the original sentence, it would imply that cooling merely influenced the compound’s appearance without necessarily causing a complete change, which contradicts the intended meaning.
Summary:
Use “effected” when something is caused or brought about.
Use “affected” when something is influenced or impacted.
In this case, cooling the compound causes a complete change in appearance, so “effected” is correct.