A scientist burns a newspaper completely to ash. How does the newspaper's initial mass compare to the total mass of the ashes and the gases released from burning the newspaper? (1 point)
The newspaper's initial mass will be one-fourth of the total mass of the ashes and the gases released
The newspaper's initial mass will be half of the total mass of the ashes and the gases released
The newspaper's initial mass will equal the total mass of the ashes and the gases released
The newspaper's initial mass will be double the total mass of the ashes and the gases released
The correct answer is: The newspaper's initial mass will equal the total mass of the ashes and the gases released.
This is due to the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. So, the mass of the ashes and gases released will be equal to the mass of the original newspaper.