A student combines two liquids in a beaker. She observes that the mass of the combined liquid is less than the mass of the two separate liquids. The student claims that this observation shows that matter is not conserved in chemical reactions. Which statement explains why the student’s claim is incorrect?(1 point)
Responses
The product contained fewer atoms than the reactants.
The product contained fewer atoms than the reactants.
The combined liquid was warmer than the two separate liquids.
The combined liquid was warmer than the two separate liquids.
The reaction did not change the physical properties of the liquids.
The reaction did not change the physical properties of the liquids.
The reaction produced a gas that escaped the beaker.
The combined liquid was warmer than the two separate liquids.
This statement explains why the student's claim is incorrect because the decrease in mass can be attributed to evaporation of the liquids due to the increase in temperature, rather than a violation of the law of conservation of matter. The matter has still been conserved, but the decrease in mass is due to a physical change rather than a chemical reaction.