Responses
Some of the atoms in the paper became gases.
Some of the atoms in the paper became gases.
Other atoms combine with the paper to produce the ash.
Other atoms combine with the paper to produce the ash.
Some of the atoms in the paper are destroyed when it burns.
Some of the atoms in the paper are destroyed when it burns.
The ash is created from new atoms that have less mass than the paper.
1 answer
The correct explanation for why the ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper is:
Some of the atoms in the paper became gases.
When paper burns, it undergoes a chemical reaction that produces gases (like carbon dioxide and water vapor) as byproducts. These gases are released into the atmosphere, resulting in the remaining ash having less mass than the original paper.
