Questions: 3. What did you observe on the glass plate when you burned wood in part 1? How can you use this observation to explain why the mass of burning wood decreased?

3. What did you observe on the glass plate when you burned wood in part 1? How can you use this observation to explain why the mass of burning wood decreased?

Transcript text: 3. What did you observe on the glass plate when you burned wood in part 1? How can you use this observation to explain why the mass of burning wood decreased?

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Observation on the Glass Plate

When wood is burned, it undergoes combustion, which is a chemical reaction with oxygen that produces heat, light, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. During this process, you may observe soot or ash deposits on the glass plate. Soot is composed of carbon particles, while ash consists of inorganic minerals that do not combust.

Step 2: Explanation of Mass Decrease

The mass of the burning wood decreases because the combustion process converts the solid wood into gaseous products such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, which escape into the air. The remaining ash is significantly lighter than the original wood.

Final Answer

\(\boxed{\text{The observation of soot and ash on the glass plate indicates that the wood has undergone combustion, resulting in the release of gaseous products and a decrease in mass.}}\)

Was this solution helpful?