Question

1. If you were to measure the mass of magnesium and hydrochloric acid before combining them in the test tube, how would that mass compare to the mass of reactants left in the test tube after the reaction? Explain your answer and how it corresponds to the law of conservation of mass.

Answer 1

Answer and explanation:

We know that magnesium and hydrochloric acid are to react with each other so the chemical equation for this reaction will be:

`2Mg + 2HCl = 2MgCl + H_2`

Here in this reaction, the mole ratio of the reactants used is 1:1 that means we need equal amounts of magnesium as well as hydrochloric acid to have a complete reaction.

Therefore, the mass would be same since according to the law of conservation of mass, energy can neither be created nor destroyed but can only be changed.