Question

State and explain the law of conservation of mass.

Answer 1

Law of conservation of mass:

1. The law of conservation of mass states that “Mass can neither be created nor destroyed” during the chemical combinations of matter.
2. Antoine Lavoisier who is often referred to as the father of modern chemistry performed careful experimental studies for various combustion reactions, namely burning of phosphorus and mercury in the presence of air.
3. Both his experiments resulted in an increased weight of products.
4. After several experiments, in the burning of phosphorus, he found that the weight gained by the phosphorus was exactly the same as the weight lost by the air. Hence, the total mass of reactants = total mass of products.
5. When hydrogen gas burns and combines with oxygen to form water, the mass of the water formed is equal to the mass of the hydrogen and oxygen consumed. Thus, this is in accordance with the law of conservation of mass.