Review the details regarding an experiment.

Question

Jason intends to conduct an experiment demonstrating the conservation of mass by burning steel wool, which primarily consists of iron. During the combustion process, the iron in the steel wool reacts with oxygen to produce iron(III) oxide.

Which phase of his experiment holds the utmost significance for accurately showcasing the conservation of mass?

(1 point)
Responses

The steel wool should be completely combusted to ensure that no iron remains in its initial form.
The steel wool should be completely combusted to ensure that no iron remains in its initial form.

The steel wool should be ignited in an environment with ambient temperature, typically ranging from 20 to 25°C.
The steel wool should be ignited in an environment with ambient temperature, typically ranging from 20 to 25°C.

The steel wool must undergo combustion within an airtight container or another enclosed system.
The steel wool must undergo combustion within an airtight container or another enclosed system.

The steel wool should undergo combustion for an extended duration, preferably lasting a minimum of two hours.

Answer 1

The phase of Jason's experiment that holds the utmost significance for accurately showcasing the conservation of mass is:

The steel wool must undergo combustion within an airtight container or another enclosed system.

Using an airtight container ensures that no reactants (iron and oxygen) or products (iron(III) oxide and any gases produced) can escape during the combustion process. This setup allows for a precise measurement of mass before and after the reaction, effectively demonstrating the conservation of mass, as the total mass of the system will remain constant throughout the experiment.