Question

study the chemical equation below. then answer questions 1 - 4. (s = sulfur and o = oxygen) s₂ + o₄ → so₂ 1. does the chemical equation above follow the law of conservation of mass? why or why not?

Explanation:

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products in a chemical reaction. In the given equation $S_2 + O_4
ightarrow SO_2$, on the reactant - side, there are 2 sulfur atoms and 4 oxygen atoms. On the product - side, there is 1 sulfur atom and 2 oxygen atoms. The number of atoms of each element is not the same on both sides of the equation, so the mass is not conserved.

Answer:

No, because the number of sulfur and oxygen atoms is not the same on both sides of the chemical equation.