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
No, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
b
No, because the mass of the reactants is lower than the mass of the products in her data.
c
Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
d
Yes, because the mass of the reactants is lower than the mass of the products in her data.
c
Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
c) Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
According to the law of conservation of matter, mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. In Fiona's data, the total mass of the reactants (magnesium and hydrochloric acid) is 55 grams, and the total mass of the products (magnesium chloride and hydrogen) is also 55 grams. This means that the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products, supporting the law of conservation of matter.
The correct answer is c) Yes, because the mass of the reactants is the same as the mass of the products in her data.
Fiona's data supports the law of conservation of matter, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction, only rearranged. In this reaction, magnesium (Mg) reacts with hydrochloric acid (HCl) to form magnesium chloride (MgCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2).
According to the balanced chemical equation:
Mg + 2HCl → MgCl2 + H2
We can see that the reactants consist of magnesium and hydrochloric acid, with a total mass of 55 grams. The products are magnesium chloride and hydrogen gas, also with a total mass of 55 grams.
Since the total mass of the reactants is the same as the total mass of the products, Fiona's data supports the law of conservation of matter. This means that no mass is lost or gained during the chemical reaction, confirming that matter is conserved.