Final answer:
The total mass of the popped balloon pieces will remain the same as the original mass of the balloon before popping, which is 5 grams, due to the law of conservation of mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, matter can neither be created nor destroyed. Therefore, when the balloon is popped, the total mass of all the pieces will remain constant, assuming no matter is added or lost to the surroundings. In this case, the closed system is the balloon and its contents. Whether the balloon is inflated or popped, as long as all the pieces are collected and weighed, the total mass should not change.
The initial mass of the balloon is given as 5 grams. When the balloon is popped, the total mass of the fragments will still be 5 grams because the mass is conserved during the process of the balloon popping. No extra mass is created or destroyed during this physical change.