What happens to the mass of substances during a physical change?
During a physical change, the mass of substances remains the same. This is known as the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that mass is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical or physical change. Therefore, if a substance undergoes a physical change such as melting, freezing, or vaporization, its mass will remain unchanged.
Explain in your own words what the law of conservation of mass means.
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that in any chemical or physical process, the total mass of the substances involved remains constant. This means that mass is neither created nor destroyed during a reaction or change, but it is merely transferred or rearranged. In simpler terms, it means that you can't create or destroy mass; it only changes form or location. This concept is important in understanding the principles of chemistry and physics, as it helps us predict and explain the behavior of matter.
What is a scientific law? How does a hypothesis become a law?
A scientific law is a statement or principle that describes a natural phenomenon or pattern observed in the natural world. It is a concise and generalized description of a consistent relationship between variables in specific conditions.
A hypothesis, on the other hand, is an educated guess or proposed explanation for a phenomenon. It is a tentative explanation that can be tested through experiments or observations.
A hypothesis becomes a law when it is repeatedly tested and supported by empirical evidence. Through rigorous experimentation and observation, scientists gather data that either supports or contradicts the hypothesis. If the hypothesis is consistently supported by the evidence and can accurately predict the outcomes of similar experiments or observations, it may be considered a law.
A scientific law is more comprehensive than a hypothesis because it is a well-established principle that holds true under specific conditions. It represents a higher level of confidence and reliability compared to a hypothesis, which is often the starting point for scientific investigation.
What happens to the mass of substances during a chemical change?
During a chemical change, the mass of substances also remains the same. The Law of Conservation of Mass applies to both physical and chemical changes. This means that the total mass of the reactants involved in a chemical reaction is equal to the total mass of the products formed.
In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to form new molecules or compounds. However, no atoms are created or destroyed in the process. The same atoms that were present in the reactants are still present in the products, just in different combinations.
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter, and according to the Law of Conservation of Mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed. Therefore, the total mass of the substances involved in a chemical reaction remains constant. This principle allows chemists to balance chemical equations and calculate quantities of reactants and products with confidence.