When 4·2g of NaHCO3 (sodium hydrogen carbonate) is added to a solution of CH3COOH (acetic acid) weighing 10·0g, it is observed that 2·2g of CO2 is released into atmosphere. The residue is found to weigh 12·0g. Show that these observations are in agreement with the law of conservation of mass.
The reaction is
Total mass of the reactants
Thus, total mass of reactants (14.2) g
= Total mass of products (14.2) g
This illustrates the law of conservation of mass.