Which statement correctly explains why the ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper?(1 point)ResponsesThe ash is created from new atoms that have less mass than the paper.The ash is created from new atoms that have less mass than the paper.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.

Question

Which statement correctly explains why the ashes of burnt paper have less mass than the original paper?(1 point)ResponsesThe ash is created from new atoms that have less mass than the paper.The ash is created from new atoms that have less mass than the paper.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.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The correct statement is: **Some of the atoms in the paper became gases.** When paper burns, the chemical reaction involves the paper reacting with oxygen in the air, which causes some of the atoms in the paper to be converted into gaseous products (like carbon dioxide and water vapor) that are released into the atmosphere. This loss of mass in the form of gases is why the ashes have less mass than the original paper.