18. Describe an example where an open system might result in conclusions that go against the Law of Conservation of Mass. (2 pts)
1 answer
One example where an open system might result in conclusions that go against the Law of Conservation of Mass is in the process of combustion. When a substance undergoes combustion, it reacts with oxygen and produces products such as carbon dioxide, water, and other gases. If the system is not completely closed and some of the gases can escape into the surroundings, it may appear as though the mass of the products is greater than the mass of the reactants. This is because the mass of the gases that escape is not accounted for in the analysis, leading to a violation of the Law of Conservation of Mass.