Explain how matter is conserved if the mass of burned magnesium ash is greater than the mass of the magnesium before it burned
Matter is conserved because the total amount of matter, or atoms, remains the same before and after the burning of magnesium. Although the mass of the burned magnesium ash may be greater than the mass of the original magnesium, it is essential to consider that other factors are at play.
When magnesium burns, it reacts with oxygen from the air to form magnesium oxide (MgO). The additional mass in the ash primarily comes from oxygen atoms. The oxygen molecules present in the air combine with the magnesium atoms, and their masses contribute to the total mass of the magnesium oxide ash.
So, while the mass of the magnesium itself may decrease due to the formation of MgO, the mass of the ash increases due to the addition of oxygen atoms. Consequently, the overall mass before and after the burning process remains the same, as no atoms are lost or gained during the chemical reaction.