Question

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.

Answer 1

This reaction demonstrates the principle of conservation of mass, as the mass of the reactants (magnesium hydroxide and nitric acid) is equal to the mass of the products (magnesium nitrate and water), indicating that no matter is created or destroyed during the reaction.