Antoine Lavoisier, the French scientist credited with first stating the law of conservation of matter, heated a mixture of tin and air in a sealed flask to produce tin oxide. Did the mass of the sealed flask and contents decrease, increase, or remain the same after the heating?
Answer (1)
According to the law of conservation of matter, as stated by Antoine Lavoisier, matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. In this case, the chemical reaction between tin and oxygen from the air inside the sealed flask results in the formation of tin oxide. However, because the flask is sealed, no matter (including gases) can escape or enter the system. Therefore, the total mass inside the flask (tin, air, and the resulting tin oxide) remains constant before and after the reaction.
