Question

what does conserving mass mean in a chemical equation
A. There are more of each type of atom on the reactant side than on the product side.
B. There is equal number of each type of atom on the reactant and product side.
C. There are more of each type of atom on the product side than on the reactant side
D. there is an unequal number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation

Answer 1

If my memory serves me well, the right one is B. There is equal number of each type of atom on the reactant and product side. Check it, if I'm wrong.

Answer 2

Conserving mass in a chemical reaction means $\boxed{{\text{B}}{\text{. There is equal number of each type of atom on the reactant and product side}}}$.

Further explanation:

Balanced chemical reaction:

The chemical reaction that contains an equal number of atoms of the different elements in the reactant as well as in the product side is known as a balanced chemical reaction. The chemical equation is required to be balanced to follow the Law of conservation of mass.

Law of conservation of mass:

According to this law, the mass of an isolated system can neither be created nor be destroyed in any chemical reaction. The mass of reactants and the products should be equal in accordance with this law. In other words, the number of atoms of each type should be same on both sides of the chemical reaction. The reactant is the substance that undergoes a change in itself in a chemical reaction whereas the product is the one that is formed as a result of the chemical reaction.

For example, the balanced chemical reaction between ${{\text{P}}_{\text{4}}}$ and ${\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}$ occurs as follows:

${{\text{P}}_4} + 10{\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_2} \to 4{\text{PC}}{{\text{l}}_5}$

Here,

${{\text{P}}_{\text{4}}}$ and ${\text{C}}{{\text{l}}_{\text{2}}}$ are the reactants.

${\text{PC}}{{\text{l}}_5}$ is the product.

In the above reaction,

Number of potassium atoms on the reactant side is 4.

Number of chlorine atoms on the reactant side is 20.

Number of potassium atoms on the product side is 4.

Number of chlorine atoms on the product side is 20.

So the number of atoms of each type is the same on both sides of the balanced chemical reaction and therefore Law of conservation of mass is followed.

Therefore option B is correct.

Learn more:

1. Balanced chemical equation: https://brainly.com/question/1405182

2. Write the chemical formula of the compound: https://brainly.com/question/10585691

Answer details:

Grade: High School

Subject: Chemistry

Chapter: Basic concepts of chemistry

Keywords: balanced chemical reaction, law of conservation of mass, reactant, product, P4, Cl2, PCl5, 10 Cl2, 4 PCl5, atoms, same.