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Changing Mass

In chemical reactions, substances may seem to lose or gain mass. Normally, one of the reactants (or products) is a gas. Gas can escape into the surrounding environment.

Burning of wood

Burning of wood

  • When wood is burnt, it releases carbon dioxide and water (and often other gases).
  • These gases can escape into the atmosphere. These gases can't be weighed easily at the end of a reaction.
Corrosion of metals

Corrosion of metals

  • The mass of the oxide produced will be larger than the mass of the starting metals because oxygen atoms from the atmosphere have been added:
    • E.g. 2Mg + O2 → 2MgO
  • The change in mass will equal the mass of the oxygen atoms which have been added.
Zinc + hydrochloric acid

Zinc + hydrochloric acid

  • During this reaction, you would expect the mass of the flask and reactants (zinc and hydrochloric acid) to decrease.
  • This is because the hydrogen gas produced will escape from the flask.
Calculating mass

Calculating mass

  • 2Na + Cl2 → 2NaCl.
  • If 2.30g of sodium reacted in excess chlorine and 5.85g of NaCl was produced, we can calculate the mass of chlorine reacted.
  • 5.85g - 2.30g = 3.55g of chlorine reacted.
Jump to other topics
1

States of Matter

2

Elements, Compounds & Mixtures

3

Atomic Structure

4

The Periodic Table

5

Chemical Formulae, Equations & Calculations

6

Bonding

7

Electrolysis

8

Groups of the Periodic Table

9

The Atmosphere

10

Reactivity Series

11

Metal Extraction

12

Acids & Alkalis

13

Chemical Tests

14

Physical Chemistry

15

Organic Chemistry

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