Conservation of mass
Introduction
The principle of conservation of mass or principle of mass conservation states that for any system closed to all transfers of matter and energy, the mass of the system must remain constant over time, as the system's mass cannot change, so quantity cannot be added nor removed. Hence, the quantity of mass is conserved over time.
History
The concept of mass conservation is widely recognized to have its roots in the work of Antoine Laurent Lavoisier, who developed a new framework of chemical reactions in the 18th century. The law of conservation of mass was first outlined by Mikhail Lomonosov in 1748. He formulated the idea that chemical transformations of materials result in changes in form but not in mass.
Concept
The conservation of mass is a fundamental concept of physics along with the conservation of energy and the conservation of momentum. In its simplest form, the conservation of mass states that mass can neither be created nor destroyed.
Conservation of Mass in Classical Physics
In classical physics, the law of conservation of mass is considered to be an exact law, that is, a law that has never been observed to be violated. The principle of conservation of mass can be used to explain a variety of phenomena in the physical and chemical domains.
Conservation of Mass in Quantum Mechanics
In quantum mechanics, the conservation of mass is not considered to be a fundamental principle, as mass and energy are considered to be interchangeable quantities according to the principle of mass-energy equivalence.
Conservation of Mass in Nuclear Reactions
In nuclear reactions, the law of conservation of mass is not followed strictly. The mass of the products of nuclear reactions is less than the mass of the reactants. This is due to the conversion of some mass into energy, as described by Einstein's theory of special relativity.
Conservation of Mass in Chemical Reactions
In chemical reactions, the law of conservation of mass is obeyed. The total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products. This principle is used to balance chemical equations.
Conservation of Mass in Biological Systems
In biological systems, the conservation of mass is also observed. For instance, in the process of photosynthesis, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. The total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products.
Applications of the Conservation of Mass
The principle of conservation of mass is used in many fields of science and engineering. It is used in chemical engineering to balance the inputs and outputs of a chemical process. In environmental engineering, it is used to track the distribution and accumulation of pollutants in the environment. In geology, it is used to understand the processes that shape the earth's crust.