Using the law of conservation of matter, explain why there is no “away” when dealing with the issue of pollution.
Any chemical reaction yields a product mass equal to the reactant mass.
The law of conservation of matter, also known as the law of conservation of mass, states that in a closed system, matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only be transformed or rearranged. Applying this law to the issue of pollution means that when pollutants are released into the environment, they don't simply disappear or vanish. Instead, they undergo various transformations or dispersal, but their mass remains constant.
When we produce and release pollutants, they can take different forms, such as gases, liquids, or solids. For example, burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide gas into the atmosphere. Even though we might not see or physically locate this gas, it doesn't mean that it has disappeared. It has only changed its form and become an integral part of the Earth's atmosphere.
Similarly, when we dispose of waste materials, such as plastics, in landfills or bodies of water, they might break down into smaller pieces or degrade over time. However, even though the waste might become less visible or noticeable, its mass is still present in the environment. It may disperse into the soil, enter the waterways, or even be ingested by animals, but it doesn't just go "away." It continues to exist in some form, contributing to the overall pollution burden on our planet.
Therefore, the concept of "away" implies that pollutants can be completely removed or eliminated, which is not the case according to the law of conservation of matter. Instead, the focus should be on reducing, reusing, and recycling our waste, minimizing pollution at the source, and implementing sustainable practices to mitigate the long-term impact of our actions on the environment.