What are the limitations of the law of conservation of mass?

What are the limitations of the law of conservation of mass?

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system. However, it has limitations, especially in nuclear reactions where mass can be converted to energy, as described by Einstein's equation E=mc².

Can you give an example of a situation where this law doesn't hold?

Sure! In nuclear fission, such as in a nuclear reactor, a small amount of mass is converted into a large amount of energy, which means the total mass before and after the reaction does not remain constant.

What about in chemical reactions?

In chemical reactions, the law generally holds true, but if gases are involved, mass can appear to change due to gas escaping or being absorbed, which can lead to confusion.

Are there any modern applications that challenge this law?

Yes, modern physics, particularly in quantum mechanics and relativistic physics, explores scenarios where traditional conservation laws are challenged, especially at subatomic levels.