Question 24 (2 points)
Ag2O --> Ag + O2
1. What does the law of conservation of matter state?
2. Explain why the chemical equation below does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter. There are two reasons why the equation does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter. Please give both reasons in your explanation for full credit.
1 point- correct definition of the law of conservation of matter.
1 point- correct explanation, including both reasons, of why the chemical equation does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter. Each reason is worth 1/2 point.
1. The law of conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products.
2. The chemical equation Ag2O --> Ag + O2 does not demonstrate the law of conservation of matter for two reasons:
a) The equation does not show the same number of atoms on both sides of the equation. On the reactant side, there are two Ag atoms and one O atom, while on the product side, there is only one Ag atom and one O atom. This discrepancy in the number of atoms violates the law of conservation of matter.
b) The equation does not balance the total mass of the reactants and products. If we consider the atomic masses of Ag and O, the total mass on the reactant side is greater than the total mass on the product side. This difference in mass also violates the law of conservation of matter.