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:

This problem relates to the law of conservation of mass, which states that in a closed system, the total mass remains constant as atoms are neither created nor destroyed, only rearranged. The flask and balloon form a closed system here. The initial total mass is the mass of the flask with vinegar (160 g) plus the mass of the balloon with baking soda (40 g), so \(160 + 40 = 200\) grams. When they react, the gas produced stays within the balloon (part of the system), so all atoms remain in the balloon or flask, and the total mass remains 200 grams. Option A is wrong because the disappearance of solid doesn't mean mass is lost. Option C is wrong as size (volume) doesn't affect mass. Option D is wrong because even though gas is lighter, in a closed system, the total mass (including the gas) is conserved.

Answer:

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