In a reaction, 5.3 g of sodium carbonate reacted with 6 g of ethanoic acid. The products were 2.2 g of carbon dioxide, 0.9 g water and 8.2 g of sodium ethanoate. Show that these observations are in agreement with the law of conservation of mass.

Sodium carbonate + ethanoic acid → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water

Answer

In the given reaction, sodium carbonate reacts with ethanoic acid to produce sodium ethanoate, carbon dioxide, and water.
Sodium Carbonate + Ethanoic acid → sodium ethanoate + carbon dioxide + water

Mass of sodium carbonate = 5.3 g (Given)
Mass of ethanoic acid = 6 g (Given)
Mass of sodium ethanoate = 8.2 g (Given)
Mass of carbon dioxide = 2.2 g (Given)
Mass of water = 0.9 g (Given)

Now, total mass before the reaction = (5.3 + 6) g
= 11.3 g

And, total mass after the reaction = (8.2 + 2.2 + 0.9) g
= 11.3 g

∴ Total mass before the reaction = Total mass after the reaction
 

Hence, the given observations are in agreement with the law of conservation of mass.

It is given that the ratio of hydrogen and oxygen by mass to form water is 1:8.

Then, the mass of oxygen gas required to react completely with 1 g of hydrogen gas is 8 g.

Therefore, the mass of oxygen gas required to react completely with 3 g of hydrogen gas is 8 × 3 g = 24 g.

The postulate of Dalton :"Atoms are indivisible particles, which can not be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction" is the result of the law of conservation of mass.

The postulate of Dalton, “The relative number and kinds of atoms are constant in a given compound”, can explain the law of definite proportions.

Mass unit equal to exactly one-twelfth the mass of one atom of carbon-12 is called one atomic mass unit. It is written as 'u'.