Chemistry / Unit 1 Chem 0033 short lesson, about 20 seconds
Conservation of Matter
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The idea
The law of conservation of matter states the total matter present does not detectably change during a physical or chemical change.
In practice
When sugar ferments into alcohol and carbon dioxide, the total mass of the products equals the mass of the starting ingredients.
Where people slip
A drying puddle seems to show matter vanishing; sealed, so the vapor cannot escape, measuring confirms the total mass unchanged.
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