Question

a flask with vinegar in it has a mass of 160 grams. a balloon with baking soda in it has a mass of 40 grams. the balloon is attached to the flask to seal the opening and the vinegar and baking soda mixes. the balloon inflates to a large volume. what will the total mass of the balloon and flask be after the balloon inflates? explain
a less than 200 grams because the solid baking soda disappears
b 200 grams, because all the atoms remain in the balloon or flask
c more than 200 grams because the size of the balloon is so much larger
d less than 200 grams because gases such as the one in the balloon are lighter than solids and liquids

Explanation:

According to the law of conservation of mass, in a closed - system (the flask and balloon here), the total mass of substances before a chemical reaction is equal to the total mass after the reaction. The initial total mass is the sum of the mass of the flask with vinegar ($160$ grams) and the mass of the balloon with baking soda ($40$ grams), which is $160 + 40=200$ grams. The atoms just rearrange during the chemical reaction between vinegar and baking soda, but all atoms remain within the balloon - flask system.

Answer:

B. 200 grams, because all the atoms remain in the balloon or flask