An unused flashbulb contains magnesium and oxygen. After use, the contents are changed to magnesium oxide, but the total mass does not change. How can this observation be explained?

Chemistry: Principles and Practice
3rd Edition
ISBN:9780534420123
Author:Daniel L. Reger, Scott R. Goode, David W. Ball, Edward Mercer
Publisher:Daniel L. Reger, Scott R. Goode, David W. Ball, Edward Mercer
Chapter2: Atoms, Molecules, And Ions
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Problem 2.128QE
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An unused flashbulb contains magnesium and oxygen. After use, the contents are changed to magnesium oxide, but the total mass does not change. How can this observation be explained?
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The observation can be explained by the the law of conservation of mass.

The law of conservation of mass states that mass in an isolated system is neither created nor destroyed by chemical reactions or physical transformations.

According to the law of conservation of mass, the mass of the products in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the reactants. 

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