A student combines two liquids in a beaker. She
observes that the mass of the combined liquid is less
than the mass of the two separate liquids. The
student claims that this observation shows that matter is
not conserved in chemical reactions. Which statement
explains why the student’s claim is incorrect? (1 point)
The reaction produced a gas that
escaped the beaker.
The reaction did not change the physical
properties of the liquids.
The combined liquid was warmer than
the two separate liquids.
The product contained fewer atoms than
the reactants.
The correct answer is: The reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
The correct statement that explains why the student's claim is incorrect is: The reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
When two liquids are combined in a beaker and the mass of the combined liquid is less than the mass of the two separate liquids, it suggests that a gas was produced during the chemical reaction. Gases have mass, but they can escape from the beaker, resulting in a decrease in the overall mass. This does not violate the principle of conservation of matter because the mass of the reactants and products (including the gas that escaped) remains the same. However, the student's claim that matter is not conserved in chemical reactions is incorrect.