Law of Conservation of Mass Lab | Open VS Closed Systems | Baking Soda and Vinegar Experiment

Summary

In this educational video, Mrs. Budashan explores the law of conservation of mass through experiments with open and closed systems. She demonstrates the concept using vinegar and baking soda, comparing mass before and after reactions. In a closed system with a balloon seal, the mass difference is attributed to gas pressure. In an open system, a 6-gram mass loss is observed as gases escape, illustrating mass conservation in chemical reactions.

Takeaways

• 🔬 The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
• 🧪 In an open system, matter and energy can leave the system, such as gases escaping into the atmosphere.
• 🛡️ A closed system prevents matter and energy from leaving, often sealed with a lid or a balloon to capture gases.
• 🍶 The experiment involves mixing vinegar and baking soda in a flask to observe chemical reactions in both open and closed systems.
• 📏 A digital scale is used to measure the initial and final masses of the systems to check for conservation of mass.
• 🎈 In the closed system, the initial mass was 236 grams, and the final mass was 234 grams, indicating a 2-gram difference.
• 🌬️ The 2-gram difference in the closed system is attributed to the pressure from the gases pushing outward, affecting the scale reading.
• 🏺 The open system's initial mass was 480 grams with the flask and vinegar, and 26 grams with the empty cup and baking soda.
• 🌀 After the reaction in the open system, the final mass was 498 grams, showing a 6-gram loss due to gases escaping into the environment.
• 📉 The 6-gram loss in the open system demonstrates the mass that has left the system, adhering to the law of conservation of mass.

Q & A

What is the law of conservation of mass?

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

What is the difference between an open system and a closed system as described in the script?

In an open system, matter and energy can leave the system, meaning there is no containment to prevent gases or particles from escaping into the surrounding environment. In a closed system, matter and energy cannot leave the system, which is typically achieved by sealing the system, such as with a lid or a balloon, to capture all gases produced.

Why does the mass appear to decrease in the closed system experiment?

The mass appears to decrease in the closed system experiment due to the buildup of pressure from the released gases, which pushes outward and upward on the balloon, affecting the weight measurement. This does not mean that mass is lost; it's still present but not fully accounted for by the scale due to the additional forces at play.

What materials are used in the experiment to demonstrate the law of conservation of mass?

The materials used in the experiment include vinegar, baking soda, a flask, a spoon, balloons, a digital scale, and a small cup to measure the baking soda.

What happens when baking soda is mixed with vinegar in the experiment?

When baking soda is mixed with vinegar, a chemical reaction occurs, producing gases that cause bubbling, fizzing, and foaming. This reaction can be violent and causes the balloon to expand as the gases push outward.

What is the initial mass of the closed system in the experiment?

The initial mass of the closed system, which includes the flask with vinegar and the balloon containing baking soda, is 236 grams.

What is the final mass of the closed system after the chemical reaction, and what does this indicate?

The final mass of the closed system after the chemical reaction is 234 grams. This indicates a 2-gram difference, which is attributed to the forces exerted by the gases, not a violation of the law of conservation of mass.

How is the mass of the baking soda determined in the open system experiment?

The mass of the baking soda in the open system experiment is determined by subtracting the mass of the empty cup (2 grams) from the total mass of the cup with baking soda (26 grams), resulting in 24 grams of baking soda.

What is the difference in mass observed in the open system experiment, and what does this represent?

In the open system experiment, a difference of six grams is observed after the chemical reaction, indicating that six grams of mass, primarily in the form of gases and small particles, have left the system and entered the surrounding air.

Why is it important to measure the mass of the cup separately in the open system experiment?

Measuring the mass of the cup separately ensures that only the mass of the baking soda is considered in the chemical reaction, as the cup itself does not participate in the reaction and should not be included in the mass calculations related to the law of conservation of mass.