Question

Sharon combines (K) and (H2O, producing (KOH) and (H2), as shown in the chemical equation. 2K + 2H2O—2KOH + H2: She records the total mass of potassium and water in the lab before combining them. The table shows her measurements. Substances/Mass (g): potassium and potassium (50), potassium hydroxide and hydrogen (?) ; Sharon predicts that the mass of the product will be 60 g According to the law of conservation of matter, is Sharon’s prediction correct or incorrect? Why or why not? (Her prediction is incorrect because the law of conservation of matter states that some mass is lost in a chemical reaction, so the mass of the products will be less than 50 g; her prediction is correct because the law of conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; her prediction is incorrect because the law of conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed , so the mass of the products will be 50 g.; her prediction is correct because the law of conservation of matter states that the products of a reaction have more mass than the reactants)

Answer 1

Sharon's prediction is incorrect because the law of conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. In this case, the mass of the products must equal the mass of the reactants.

Sharon initially has a total mass of 50 g from potassium and water combined. This means that the total mass of the products (potassium hydroxide and hydrogen) must also equal 50 g, not 60 g. Therefore, her prediction of 60 g is not consistent with the law of conservation of matter.

The correct statement is: **"her prediction is incorrect because the law of conservation of matter states that matter can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, so the mass of the products will be 50 g."**