In a reaction, 5.3 g of sodium carbonate reacted with 6 g of acetic acid. The products were 2.2 g of carbon dioxide, 0.9 g water and 8.2 g of sodium acetate. Show that these observations are in agreement with the law of conservation of mass.
sodium carbonate + acetic acid `→` sodium acetate + carbon dioxide + water

Explanation

Total mass of reactants = mass of sodium carbonate + mass of ethanoic acid = 5.3g + 6g = 11.3g Total mass of products = mass of sodium ethanoate + mass of carbon dioxide + mass of water `= 8.2 g + 2.2 g + 0.9 g = 11.3 g`
Thus, the mass of reactants is equal to the mass of products, therefore the observations are in agreement with the law of conservation of mass.