A student places a sealed flask containing 10.0 g of baking soda and 50.0 g of vinegar onto a digital balance, observing that the total reading remains 60.0 g after vigorous bubbling ceases. The student then repeats the identical reaction in an open beaker on the same balance, noting that the final mass registers as 57.8 g. Based on these observations, which deduction correctly explains the results in accordance with the law of conservation of mass?

A) Mass was destroyed during the second trial because chemical reactions producing gases do not obey conservation laws in unsealed containers.

B) The total mass of matter was conserved in both trials, but 2.2 g of gaseous product escaped into the surrounding air in the open system.

C) The closed flask prevented new atoms from being synthesized, whereas the open beaker caused the liquid vinegar to undergo atomic decomposition.

D) Atmospheric pressure exerted an upward buoyant force that reduced the measured weight of the open beaker without involving gas loss.

Conservation of mass Transitional Reasoning Practice

Chemistry · Matter · Chemistry · Properties & Changes of Matter

1 Chemistry practice questions on Conservation of mass. Questions that build towards applied reasoning.

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Matter · Chemistry

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