Question

If 100 lbs. of dynamite explodes, how much will the products of this explosion weigh?

A. More than 100 lbs.
B. Less than 100 lbs.
C. 100 lbs.
D. It depends on the specific dynamite used.

Answer 1

The products of the explosion of 100 lbs. of dynamite will also weigh 100 lbs., in accordance with the law of conservation of mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

If 100 lbs. of dynamite explodes, the products of this explosion will weigh 100 lbs. The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system through ordinary chemical reactions or physical changes. In the case of an explosive like dynamite, which is based on nitroglycerin, although it releases gases and heat rapidly upon detonation, the total mass of the reactants before the explosion is equal to the total mass of the products after the explosion.