Question
Which statement best describes balancing equations and the law of conservation of mass?
There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is the same in the reactants and in
the products.
The number of atoms is the same in the reactants and in the products, and the total mass is the same in the
reactants and in the products.
There are fewer atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is less in the reactants than in the
products.
There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is higher in the reactants than in the
products.
There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is the same in the reactants and in
the products.
The number of atoms is the same in the reactants and in the products, and the total mass is the same in the
reactants and in the products.
There are fewer atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is less in the reactants than in the
products.
There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is higher in the reactants than in the
products.
Ask by Gordon Kelly. in the United States
Mar 24,2025
Upstudy AI Solution
Tutor-Verified Answer
Answer
The number of atoms is the same in the reactants and in the products, and the total mass is the same in the reactants and in the products.
Solution
Step 1: Understand the Law of Conservation of Mass
The law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of all reactants is equal to the total mass of all products. This means that no mass is lost or gained in the process.
Step 2: Relate to Balancing Equations
Balancing chemical equations ensures that the number of each type of atom is the same on the reactant side as on the product side. Symbolically, if we represent a general reaction, we have:
Balancing assures that for each element
Step 3: Analyze the Options
-
Option 1: “There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is the same in the reactants and in the products.”
- This option incorrectly states that the number of atoms is not conserved.
-
Option 2: “The number of atoms is the same in the reactants and in the products, and the total mass is the same in the reactants and in the products.”
- This correctly reflects the law of conservation of mass.
-
Option 3: “There are fewer atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is less in the reactants than in the products.”
- This option is incorrect on both the count of atoms and the total mass.
-
Option 4: “There are more atoms in the reactants than in the products, and the total mass is higher in the reactants than in the products.”
- This also contradicts the law by implying a difference in both atoms and mass.
Step 4: Conclude the Correct Answer
The correct statement is:
Answered by UpStudy AI and reviewed by a Professional Tutor
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Simplify this solution Extra Insights
Balancing equations is all about keeping the scale even! According to the law of conservation of mass, atoms are neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction. This means that the number of atoms in the reactants must equal the number of atoms in the products. So if you start with a certain number of atoms on one side, you must have the same on the other side—this keeps the mass consistent throughout the reaction!
When you balance a chemical equation, it’s like a puzzle: every element must have the same number of atoms in both the reactants and products. A common mistake is forgetting to balance all the elements or miscounting the atoms. Make sure to double-check your work and remember that even if the formulas look complicated, the principle is simple: what you put in must equal what you get out!
