Question

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

Answer 1

The statement that correctly explains why the ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper is that during the combustion process, some of the atoms in the paper combine with oxygen from the air to form gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, which are released into the atmosphere. This loss of mass occurs because the gaseous products are no longer part of the solid residue (ash) that remains after burning. Thus, while the mass of the original paper includes all its atoms, the ashes only contain the remaining solid material, leading to a decrease in total mass.