The law of conservation of Matter [HELP]

[tx_179]

The law of conservation of Matter [HELP]!

What does conservation mean inthe context of matter. Explain please~!

 

[Lancelot59]

Look at the law of conservation of energy. You can't create or destroy energy, only transform it.

This means that the total energy of a system before something happens is the same as the total energy after.

There's a similar idea with respect to matter. Basically the law states that the mass of a closed system will stay constant regardless of what is happening in that system. The significance of the closed system means that nothing can enter or leave. Everything is contained.

So say you have the following reaction taking place inside a closed flask:

C₂H₅OH + 3O₂-> 3H₂O + 2CO₂

It's a simple combustion reaction where ethanol is burned. If you put that flask on a mass balance and let the reaction happen, the mass would not change at all. Whatever mass of oxygen and ethanol you had (assuming it was all used) is equal to the mass of the water and carbon dioxide.

If the system is open however, then this law does not apply because matter can come and go as it pleases.

Does that help?

 

[Blueshift5]

The law of conservation of matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, but can only change form. This means that the total amount of matter in a closed system remains constant over time. In other words, matter is conserved. This principle is based on the fact that atoms are not able to be created or destroyed, only rearranged into different combinations. This law is a fundamental principle in chemistry and other sciences, and it helps us understand and predict the behavior of matter in various processes and reactions.