Questions: How do we "show" the law of conservation of mass in a chemical equation?

Transcript text: How do we "show" the law of conservation of mass in a chemical equation?

Solution

Solution Steps

Step 1: Understand the Law of Conservation of Mass

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products.

Step 2: Write the Chemical Equation

Start by writing the unbalanced chemical equation for the reaction. For example, consider the combustion of methane: \[ \text{CH}_4 + \text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + \text{H}_2\text{O} \]

Step 3: Count the Atoms of Each Element

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. For the unbalanced equation:

Reactants: 1 C, 4 H, 2 O
Products: 1 C, 2 H, 3 O

Step 4: Balance the Equation

Adjust the coefficients to balance the number of atoms of each element on both sides. For the combustion of methane: \[ \text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O} \]

Now, count the atoms again:

Reactants: 1 C, 4 H, 4 O
Products: 1 C, 4 H, 4 O

Step 5: Verify the Balance

Ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation, confirming that mass is conserved.

Final Answer

The balanced chemical equation for the combustion of methane is: \[ \boxed{\text{CH}_4 + 2\text{O}_2 \rightarrow \text{CO}_2 + 2\text{H}_2\text{O}} \]

This balanced equation demonstrates the law of conservation of mass, as the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides of the equation.

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