which statement correctly explains why the ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper

Answer 1

The ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper because of the process of combustion, during which some of the paper's material is converted into gases that are released into the air. When paper burns, it undergoes a chemical reaction with oxygen, producing carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases as byproducts. The mass that escapes as gas is not accounted for in the remaining ashes, which results in the ashes having less mass than the original paper. This loss of mass is an example of the law of conservation of mass, where mass can neither be created nor destroyed, but rather transformed and transferred between different forms.