Question detail
Explain why the mass of a reaction mixture may appear to decrease when a gas is produced in an open system.
Try the question, check the answer, then read the explanation to understand the curriculum point.
At a glance
Question
Type
exam_style
Style
Topic
Chemical measurements, conservation of mass and the quantitative interpretation of chemical equations
Question
Explain why the mass of a reaction mixture may appear to decrease when a gas is produced in an open system.
Answer
The mass of the reaction mixture appears to decrease because the gas produced escapes into the atmosphere. Since the gas is no longer contained within the reaction vessel, it is not included in the total mass measured.
Explanation
This question tests the understanding of mass changes during chemical reactions involving gases. It assesses the student's ability to link the escape of gas to a decrease in mass, demonstrating comprehension of the law of conservation of mass in an open system.
Common mistake
Misunderstanding Mass Changes
Students often think that the mass of a system always remains constant, even when gases are involved in reactions.
Emphasize that gas escape or uptake can lead to apparent mass changes in an open system, and relate this to the conservation of mass principle.
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