Chapter 19, Problem 13STP

To determine

To state: the law of conservation of mass and apply it to the given reaction.

Answer to Problem 13STP

The conservation law of mass is applied to the given chemical reaction in the photograph, because the number of same atoms on the reactants side is equal to the number of atoms present on the product side

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

According to the law of conservation of mass, mass can neither be created nor destroyed in any chemical reaction.

The balanced chemical equation for the given reaction is as follows:

  ${\text{NiCl}}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{aq}\right)\text{+}\text{2NaOH}\left(\text{aq}\right)\to \text{Ni}{\left(\text{OH}\right)}_{\text{2}}\left(\text{s}\right)\text{+2NaCl}\left(\text{aq}\right)$

Here, this reaction is a balanced chemical reaction therefore this follows the conservation law of mass. In the given chemical reaction, mass can neither be created or destroyed, according to the law of conservation of mass. Since, the number of same atoms on the reactants side is equal to the number of atoms present on the product side, the total mass on the reactants side must be equal to the total mass on the product side.

Conclusion:

Hence, the conservation law of mass is followed.