Question

1. if the alka seltzer was added to water in a closed container, would the mass of the container increase, decrease, or remain the same? use a particle diagram to help justify your answer.

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of mass, in a closed system, matter is neither created nor destroyed. When Alka - Seltzer (a mixture of substances like sodium bicarbonate and citric acid) is added to water in a closed container, the chemical reaction that occurs (for example, the reaction between the acid and the bicarbonate to produce carbon dioxide gas, water, and other products) does not allow any matter to escape the container. The total mass of the reactants (Alka - Seltzer and water) will be equal to the total mass of the products (the resulting solution, any dissolved substances, and the gas produced which is still within the closed container). So, the mass of the container and its contents remains the same. A particle diagram would show the initial particles (Alka - Seltzer particles and water molecules) and the final particles (the products of the reaction) all within the boundaries of the closed container, with no particles entering or leaving, thus justifying that the mass remains constant.

Answer:

The mass of the container would remain the same.