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) Responses The combined liquid was warmer than the two separate liquids. The combined liquid was warmer than the two separate liquids. The product contained fewer atoms than the reactants. The product contained fewer atoms than the reactants. The reaction did not change the physical properties of the liquids. The reaction did not change the physical properties of the liquids. The reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
The product contained fewer atoms than the reactants.
This statement explains why the student's claim is incorrect because even though the mass of the combined liquid is less than the mass of the two separate liquids, the number of atoms remains constant in a chemical reaction. The decrease in mass may be due to a change in physical state, such as the formation of a gas that escapes the beaker.