Copper sulphate reacts with sodium hydroxide to form a blue precipitate of copper hydroxide and sodium sulphate. In an experiment, 15.95 g of copper sulphate reacted with 8.0 g of sodium hydroxide to form 9.75 g of copper hydroxide and 14.2 g of sodium sulphate. Which law of chemical combination is illustrated by this data?
1. The law of conservation of mass is illustrated by this data.
2. The mass of products = The mass of reactants
CuSO4 + NaOH → Cu(OH)2 + NaSO4
(15.95 g) (8 g) (9.75 g) (14.2 g)
3. Total mass of reactants = (15.95 g + 8 g) = 23.95 g
4. Total mass of products = (9.75 g + 14.2 g) = 23.95 g
5. The total mass of products is equal to the total mass of reactants
Hence, the Law of conservation of mass is valid here.
Law of conservation of mass