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 reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
The reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
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 produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
This explains why the mass of the combined liquid is less than the mass of the two separate liquids. When a gas is produced in a chemical reaction and escapes the container, it can lead to a decrease in mass. This does not violate the law of conservation of matter, as the total mass of the reactants and products would still be the same if the mass of the gas is taken into account.