Question

part b
how does the conservation of mass apply to investigation 2?
the total mass increases because new atoms are created when the black substance forms.
the mass is conserved because oxygen atoms from the air combine with the copper atoms.
the mass decreases because some copper atoms are destroyed during the reaction.
the mass is conserved because the black substance contains fewer atoms than the original copper.

Explanation:

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. In the context of copper reacting with oxygen in the air to form a black - substance (copper oxide), oxygen atoms from the air combine with copper atoms. The total mass before and after the reaction remains the same. New atoms are not created, and atoms are not destroyed.

Answer:

The mass is conserved because oxygen atoms from the air combine with the copper atoms.