Date Submitted: January 4, 2023

Post-Laboratory Report

Group No.: 3

Group Name: CHEM - E

Leader: Kian Leoj Mago

Name of Members and Contribution:

 Kian Leoj O. Mago – Canva Presentation

 Lord Eduard James R. Vita – Set Up, Results, and Discussion
 Lance Vincent M. Gallardo - Methodology
 Ericah Jane C. Celindro – Summary and Conclusion
 Jennise Gem U. Camangon – Answer to Questions
 Bianca N. Domingo – Introduction, Objectives, and Reagents

Experiment No.: 1

Experiment Title: Conservation of Mass

I. INTRODUCTION

In a chemical reaction, mass is always conserved. Atoms are neither created nor destroyed.
This concept is more commonly known as the law of conservation of mass. The law of conservation
of mass states that the mass of the element at the beginning of the reaction will equal that
element’s mass at the end of the reaction. In some chemical reactions like the burning of wood, for
instance, it may seem as though the matter is being destroyed, however, the truth is, the same
amount of matter still exists just like before the reaction occurred.

The law of conservation of mass was created by Antoine Lavoisier, a French chemist in 1789.
This law simply states that the total mass of the reactant is equal to the total mass of the product.
Reactants are the starting materials that undergo chemical change. On the other hand, a product is a
substance that is formed at the end of a chemical reaction. It is important to take note that matter
and its mass may neither be created nor destroyed, but still can change forms to other substances
like solids, liquids, and gases.

II. OBJECTIVES
 To show that new substances are formed in a chemical reaction
 To show the conservation of mass during a chemical reaction

III. TABLE OF REACTANTS, PRODUCTS, AND OTHER CHEMICALS

Chemical Name Chemical Molecular Boiling Point Melting Point Solubility

Formula Weight
Hydrochloric acid HCl 36.458 g/mol 81.5 - 110 C - 74 C Miscible
Zinc Zn 65.38 g/mol 908 °C 419°C Reacts with
water.
 Chemical Name Hazard (if applicable)
Hydrochloric acid  May be corrosive to metals
 Causes severe skin burns and eye damage
 May cause respiratory irritation
Zinc  Self-heating: may catch fire. In contact with water releases
flammable gases. Very toxic to aquatic life. Very toxic to
aquatic life with long-lasting effects.

D. METHODOLOGY
D. METHODOLOGY
E. SET-UP
F. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

In both set-ups, the reaction between zinc pellets (Zn) and hydrochloric acid (HCI) yielded
zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and hydrogen gas (H 2) - which were seen as tiny bubbles and smoke-like
appearance.

Moreover, the experiment showcased how the conservation of mass can be applied to
chemical reactions. Conservation of mass states that the mass of a certain substance will not change
before and after a chemical reaction not unless in an open system.

In the Open System, it can be observed that the masses of the plastic bag before and after
the reaction differed from each other, while the masses in the Close System 'before' and 'after' the
reaction remained the same. The reasons behind these phenomena are: the mass of the hydrogen
gas (the product) in the open system moved into the space outside the plastic bag reducing the total
mass of the plastic bag; while the mass of the H 2 in the closed system was trapped inside the plastic
bag making the 'mass before the reaction' and 'mass after the reaction' almost the same.

G. ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS

1. Why was it important for the plastic bag to be sealed?

 The conservation of mass law is for a closed system, which means that matter cannot enter
or leave the system. So if you allow the product of the chemical reaction to stay inside a
sealed container, the container with the raw (NHCl and NaHCO 3) will have the same mass
before, during, and after evaporation.
2. What did you observe that indicated that a chemical reaction took place?

 NHCl is a strong acid and NaHCO3 serves as the base. Their combination will let the
resealable bag blow up meaning that the pressure inside is heavy which makes the carbon
dioxide CO2 released.

3. Compare the mass of the plastic bag and its contents before and after the chemical reaction.

 For the number 3, we failed to measure the mass after the chemical reaction since the
resealable bag blew up and already release CO 2 but we measure it after it blew up.

Before chemical reaction: 60.19g

 After chemical reaction: 59.71 g
As you can see, the law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction mass is
neither created nor destroyed and the mass will remain the same but since we weren’t able
to measure the resealable bag before it blew up it got lighter because the CO 2 is released.

4. Does your comparison in Question 3 confirm the conservation of mass during this
chemical reaction? Explain.

 As we state in number 3, we are not able to measure the mass of the closed system since the
resealable plastic can not handle the pressure and releases the CO 2. But the masses before
and after are supposed to be the same.

H. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

As the result of the experiment conducted, the mass of the plastic bag in the open and closed
system set-up before reaction (g) is 60.19 g while, the mass of the plastic bag in the open system set-
up after reaction (g) is 56. 24 g and the mass of the plastic bag in the close system set – up after
reaction (g) is 59. 71 g. It is observed in the open system set -up the zinc pellets gradually dissolved as
tiny bubbles kept on emerging and smoke also appeared. While, in the closed system set – up it is
observed that the resalable plastic bag suddenly bloated and after a few seconds it burst and
unleashed smoke that was unbearable on the eyes and nose as the pellets gradually dissolved.

Therefore, in the set-ups, the reaction between zinc pellets (Zn) and hydrochloric acid (HCI)
yielded zinc chloride (ZnCl2) and hydrogen gas (H2)-which were seen as tiny bubbles and smoke-like
appearance. The experiment has shown that conservation of mass can be applied to chemical
reactions. Thus, conservation of mass states that the mass of a certain substance will not change
before and after a chemical reaction not unless in an open system. In the Open System, it can be
observed that the masses of the plastic bag before and after the reaction differed from each other,
while the masses in the Close System before and after the reaction remained the same.

In conclusion, the reasons behind these phenomena are: the mass of the hydrogen gas (the
product) in the open system moved into the space outside the plastic bag reducing the total mass of
the plastic bag while the mass of the R, in the close system were trapped inside the plastic bag making
the mass ‘before the reaction' and ‘mass after the reaction’ almost the same.
I. REFERENCES

 Conservation of Mass in Chemistry. (2019, April 20). CK-12.

https://flexbooks.ck12.org/cbook/ck-12-middle-school-physical-science-flexbook-2.0/
section/5.18/primary/lesson/conservation-of-mass-in-chemical-reactions-ms-ps/
 Sterner, W. (n.d.). The Conservation of Mass| Knowledge Project. ( 2011),
https://www.nature.com/scitable/knowledge/library/the-conservation-of-mass-17395478/?
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