Question

In the following chemical reaction, which element is shown to be violating the law of conservation of mass? C3H8 + 4O2 -> 3CO2 + 4H2O

A. C
B. H
C. O
D. none of the above; the equation is balanced.

Answer 1

Checking if it is balanced:

C
3 3

H
8 4*2 = 8

O
8 3*2 + 4 = 6 + 4 = 10
8 10

Only O is not balanced.

So O is violating the law. Option C.

C. O