Does the mass of tap water change when salt is added.

Yes. The mass will increase by exactly the amount of salt that you add. The volume goes up by a lesser percentage than the mass, so the density will also go up.

Yes, the mass of tap water does change when salt is added. The addition of salt increases the total mass of the solution.

To understand why, let's discuss the properties of salt and water. Salt is a solute, while water acts as a solvent. When salt is added to water, the salt molecules separate into ions, which are negatively and positively charged particles. These ions become surrounded by water molecules through the process of solvation.

During solvation, water molecules form a shell around each ion, stabilizing the ions and preventing them from rejoining to form solid salt. This process increases the overall mass of the solution because the salt's mass is essentially distributed among the water molecules.

To measure the change in mass, you can follow these steps:

1. Begin by measuring the mass of an empty container, such as a beaker or a cup, using a balance.
2. Fill the container with a known amount of tap water, and measure the mass of the container with the water.
3. Record the initial mass of the tap water.
4. Gradually add salt to the water while stirring gently until it dissolves completely.
5. Measure the mass of the container with the saltwater.
6. Record the final mass of the saltwater.
7. Calculate the difference between the initial and final masses to determine the change in mass caused by the addition of salt.

By following these steps, you can determine the exact change in mass when salt is added to tap water.