Based on the Law of Conservation of Mass, what mass of products form when baking soda decomposes?
NaHCO3 → Na2CO3 + H2O + CO₂
25.00 g → ? g
Give your answer to the correct number of significant figures.
Answer (1)
The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the mass of reactants equals the mass of products.
The mass of the reactant (baking soda) is 25.00 g.
Therefore, the mass of the products is also 25.00 g.
The final answer is 25.00 g .
Explanation
Understanding the Problem The problem states that baking soda (NaHCO3) decomposes into Na2CO3, H2O, and CO2. We are given that 25.00 g of baking soda decomposes, and we need to find the mass of the products formed. 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.
Applying the Law of Conservation of Mass Since the mass of the reactant (baking soda) is 25.00 g, and mass is conserved, the mass of the products must also be 25.00 g.
Determining the Mass of Products The mass of the products is equal to the mass of the reactant, which is 25.00 g. The given mass has 4 significant figures, so our answer should also have 4 significant figures.
Final Answer Therefore, the mass of the products formed when 25.00 g of baking soda decomposes is 25.00 g.
Examples
The Law of Conservation of Mass is a fundamental principle in chemistry and has many real-world applications. For example, when you burn a piece of wood, the mass of the ash, smoke, and gases produced will equal the mass of the original piece of wood. Similarly, in cooking, the mass of the ingredients you start with will equal the mass of the final dish (assuming nothing is spilled or lost). This principle is crucial in many fields, including environmental science, where it is used to track pollutants and ensure that waste is properly disposed of. In medicine, it helps in understanding how drugs are metabolized and eliminated from the body. In engineering, it is used to design chemical reactors and other systems where mass balance is critical. Understanding the Law of Conservation of Mass is essential for solving many practical problems in science and engineering.
