Multiple Choice
Which statement best describes the relationship between balancing chemical equations and the law of conservation of mass?
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2. Atoms & Elements
Law of Conservation of Mass
Multiple Choice
Which of the following chemical equations obeys the law of conservation of mass?
A
N_2 + 3H_2 → 2NH_3 + H_2
B
C + O_2 → CO
C
2H_2 + O_2 → 2H_2O
D
Na + Cl_2 → NaCl_2
Verified step by step guidance1
Understand that the law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products. This means the number of atoms of each element must be the same on both sides of the equation.
For each given chemical equation, count the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side and compare it to the number on the product side.
For example, in the equation \(\mathrm{N_2 + 3H_2 \rightarrow 2NH_3 + H_2}\), count nitrogen and hydrogen atoms on both sides to check if they are balanced.
Repeat this process for the other equations: \(\mathrm{C + O_2 \rightarrow CO}\), \(\mathrm{2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O}\), and \(\mathrm{Na + Cl_2 \rightarrow NaCl_2}\), verifying atom counts for each element.
Identify which equation has equal numbers of each type of atom on both sides, indicating it obeys the law of conservation of mass.
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