Verify the Law of Conservation of Mass

What is the Law of Conservation of Mass? 

In any physical or chemical process, mass always remains conserved. It can neither be created nor destroyed.

Aim of this experiment is to understand and verify the law of conservation of mass.

Here, we will find the law of conservation of mass by mixing barium chloride and sodium sulphate. Let us take a look at this experiment in a virtual lab.

Apparatus Required

• Digital balance
• Two beakers (150 mL)
• One beaker (250 mL)
• Three glass rods

Chemicals Required

• Wash bottle containing distilled water
• Watch glass containing 7.2 g barium chloride dihydrate
• Watch glass containing 16.1 g sodium sulphate decahydrate

Procedure

• Dissolve the 7.2 g of barium chloride dihydrate in the 150 mL beaker that has 100 mL distilled water.
• A solution of barium chloride was prepared and weighed (107.2 g). 
• Dissolve the 16.1 g of sodium sulphate decahydrate in the 150 mL beaker that has 100 mL distilled water.
• A solution of sodium sulphate was prepared and weighed (116.1 g).
• Pour the two solutions into the 250 mL beaker and mix thoroughly.
• Measure the mass of the 250 mL beaker once the chemical reaction tends towards completion.
• The mass of the products was found to be 223.3 g.
• Compare the total mass of the reactants with the total mass of the products.
• The total mass of the reactants was 223.3 g. Hence, the mass of the reactants is equal to the mass of the products

Precautions

• The pointer of the digital balance should be at zero before taking the measurements.
• The two solutions should be mixed slowly with constant stirring.
• Wear your lab coat and gloves.
• All the pieces of apparatus must be washed with distilled water before the execution of the experiment.
• Avoid skin contact with chemicals.