Section 1
Matter Does Not Vanish
Key Idea
When a substance burns or dissolves, it may seem to disappear, but matter never vanishes.
It simply changes state or becomes invisible to the naked eye.
Key Idea.
Section 1
Matter Does Not Vanish
When a substance burns or dissolves, it may seem to disappear, but matter never vanishes.
It simply changes state or becomes invisible to the naked eye.
Section 2
Open vs. Closed Systems
To verify that matter remains, scientists use closed systems where nothing can escape. If you burn steel wool inside a sealed jar, the total mass stays exactly the same.
This experiment provides proof that atoms are not lost; they are just transforming into products that might be difficult to capture in an open system.
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Section 1
Matter Does Not Vanish
When a substance burns or dissolves, it may seem to disappear, but matter never vanishes.
It simply changes state or becomes invisible to the naked eye.
Section 2
Open vs. Closed Systems
To verify that matter remains, scientists use closed systems where nothing can escape. If you burn steel wool inside a sealed jar, the total mass stays exactly the same.
This experiment provides proof that atoms are not lost; they are just transforming into products that might be difficult to capture in an open system.
Book overview
Jump across lessons in the current chapter without opening the full course modal.
Continue this chapter