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Showing the Conservation of Mass in Chemistry

When we talk about the conservation of mass in a chemical reaction, it’s important to keep it simple. This means that the total weight of the materials we start with (called reactants) will always be the same as the total weight of what we end up with (called products), as long as nothing gets lost.

Let’s look at some easy ways to demonstrate this in a classroom.

1. Using a Closed Container

One of the easiest ways is to do a reaction in a closed container. For example, when you mix vinegar and baking soda in a sealed bag or a closed jar. Here’s how to do it:

• You Will Need:

  • Vinegar
  • Baking soda
  • A sealed bag or jar
  • A scale to measure weight

• Steps:

  1. First, weigh the vinegar and baking soda separately.
  2. Then, mix them in the closed container.
  3. Watch the reaction — you’ll see bubbles and fizzing as carbon dioxide is made.
  4. After everything stops bubbling, weigh the whole container.

In this case, the weight before mixing (vinegar + baking soda) will be the same as the weight after the reaction if no gas escapes.

2. Using a Pre-Weighed Reaction

Another method to show conservation of mass is with a controlled experiment:

• You Will Need:
  • Table salt (sodium chloride)
  • Distilled water
  • A beaker (a type of container)
  • A scale
• Steps:
  1. Weigh a certain amount of salt and write down the weight.
  2. Add the salt to a measured amount of distilled water in a beaker.
  3. Stir until the salt disappears, then weigh the beaker again.

From this, you should see that the weight of the salt plus the weight of the water equals the weight of the solution after the salt dissolves. It shows that even though the salt seems to vanish, it’s still there — just mixed in with the water.

3. Burning a Candle in a Closed Jar

If you want a more exciting reaction, try burning a candle in a closed jar:

• You Will Need:
  • A candle
  • A jar with a lid
  • A scale
• Steps:
  1. Weigh the candle and the jar together.
  2. Light the candle and put it inside the jar, then cover it.
  3. Watch as the candle burns until it stops because it ran out of oxygen.

After the candle goes out, weigh the jar and the leftover wax. You’ll notice that the total weight stays the same, even though gases were created. This can lead to a great discussion about how gases also add to the weight.

Conclusion

With every experiment, you show that in a closed space, the weight is conserved. This highlights a key idea in chemistry: the mass doesn’t disappear; it just changes form. This makes learning about chemical reactions more interesting while teaching the principle of conservation of mass!