By Jaime Swanson | Updated Mar 24, 2022

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The Law of Conservation of Mass states that the total mass of reactants and products remains constant during a chemical process, though their physical states may change. An everyday illustration is a melting ice cube: the mass of the ice should equal the mass of the resulting water.

Procedure

1. Calibrate the balance: Zero the scale so the triple beam rests in the middle. Use the balance weights for accuracy.
2. Measure the container: Weigh the plastic dish alone; this value will serve as your baseline.
3. Weigh the ice: Place the ice cube in the dish and record the combined weight. Subtract the dish’s mass to obtain the ice’s mass. Remove the dish from the scale.
4. Allow complete melting: Let the cube melt entirely. Return the dish to the balance and record the new weight. Subtract the dish’s mass again. The two values should match, confirming conservation of mass.

Materials

• Analytical balance
• Ice cube
• Small plastic dish
• Pencil and paper for recording data