When magnesium hydroxide reacts with nitric acid, it produces magnesium nitrate and water.
Mg(OH)2 + 2HNO3 → Mg(NO3)2 + 2H2O
In one to two sentences, explain how this reaction demonstrates that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. What elements are present in the reactants and products?
1 answer
This reaction demonstrates the law of conservation of matter because the number and types of atoms present are the same on both sides of the equation, only their arrangement has changed. The reactants include magnesium, oxygen, hydrogen, and nitrogen, while the products include magnesium, nitrogen, oxygen, and hydrogen.