Misunderstandings About the Conservation of Mass in Chemical Reactions
There are a few common misunderstandings about how mass works during chemical reactions. Let’s clear them up:
Can Mass Disappear?
Some people think that during a chemical reaction, mass can just vanish. Actually, that’s not true! The total mass of what you start with (called reactants) is always the same as the total mass of what you end up with (called products).
Does Gas Mean Mass is Lost?
Many believe that when a gas is created, it means mass is lost. But that's not the case! The weight of the gas is part of the total mass. So, nothing is missing.
Do Physical Changes Change Mass?
Some folks think that changing a solid to a liquid (like melting) or a liquid to a gas (like boiling) affects the mass. However, the mass stays the same. There’s no loss; it’s just a change in the form of the matter.
In a closed system, the mass stays nearly constant, around 99.9%. This means that no matter what happens with the substance, the total mass doesn’t really change.
Misunderstandings About the Conservation of Mass in Chemical Reactions
There are a few common misunderstandings about how mass works during chemical reactions. Let’s clear them up:
Can Mass Disappear?
Some people think that during a chemical reaction, mass can just vanish. Actually, that’s not true! The total mass of what you start with (called reactants) is always the same as the total mass of what you end up with (called products).
Does Gas Mean Mass is Lost?
Many believe that when a gas is created, it means mass is lost. But that's not the case! The weight of the gas is part of the total mass. So, nothing is missing.
Do Physical Changes Change Mass?
Some folks think that changing a solid to a liquid (like melting) or a liquid to a gas (like boiling) affects the mass. However, the mass stays the same. There’s no loss; it’s just a change in the form of the matter.
In a closed system, the mass stays nearly constant, around 99.9%. This means that no matter what happens with the substance, the total mass doesn’t really change.