When a substance burns in a closed system, is there any evidence that atoms are destroyed during the reaction?

• A. No, the total mass of atoms remains unchanged, indicating atoms are not destroyed.
• B. No, atoms are converted into energy and disappear.
• C. Yes, new atoms are created as the substance burns.
• D. Yes, the mass decreases because atoms are destroyed during burning.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that in a closed system, matter cannot be created or destroyed during a chemical reaction.
2. Understand that burning (combustion) is a chemical reaction where atoms rearrange to form new substances, but the total number of atoms remains the same.
3. Recognize that the total mass before and after the reaction remains constant because atoms are neither created nor destroyed, only rearranged.
4. Note that energy can be released or absorbed during the reaction, but this does not affect the total mass of atoms present.
5. Conclude that the evidence from the constant total mass in a closed system shows that atoms are not destroyed during burning.