The chemical equation for the reaction between magnesium (Mg) and hydrochloric acid (HCl) is shown.
Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
Fiona weighs the magnesium and hydrochloric acid before the reaction and finds a total mass of 55 grams. After the reaction, she measures the mass of the products, magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen (H2), and finds a total mass of 55 grams again. Does Fiona's data support the law of conservation of matter, and why?
a
Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
b
Yes, because the mass of the reactants is lower than the mass of the products in her data.
c
No, because the mass of the reactants is lower than the mass of the products in her data.
d
No, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
a. Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
a. Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. In other words, the total mass of the reactants should be equal to the total mass of the products. In Fiona's data, the total mass before the reaction is 55 grams, and the total mass after the reaction is also 55 grams. This indicates that the mass is conserved, and therefore Fiona's data supports the law of conservation of matter.
The correct answer is:
a) Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
Explanation:
Fiona's data supports the law of conservation of matter. According to this law, matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it can only change form. The total mass of the reactants should be equal to the total mass of the products.
In the given chemical equation, the reactants are magnesium (Mg) and hydrochloric acid (HCl). The products are magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen (H2). Fiona found that the total mass of the reactants before the reaction was 55 grams. After the reaction, the total mass of the products was also 55 grams.
Since the total mass before the reaction is the same as the total mass after the reaction, it confirms the law of conservation of matter. This means that the mass is conserved during the chemical reaction, indicating that no matter is lost or gained.