Mississippi Science PHS.4.4
The Standard
- PHS.4
- Students will analyze changes in matter and the relationship of these changes to the law of conservation of matter and energy.
Use mathematical and computational analysis to examine evidence that mass is conserved in chemical reactions using simple stoichiometry problems (1:1 mole ratio) or atomic masses to demonstrate the conservation of mass with a balanced equation.
2026 Mississippi College- and Career-Readiness Standards for Science · The Law of Conservation of Matter and Energy
Teacher's field guide
What This Standard Means
What Students Need to Do
- Students use balanced equations and atomic masses to calculate the total mass of reactants and products. They use a 1:1 mole ratio to predict a product's mass and compare it with reaction data.
What Mastery Looks Like
- Given Fe + S → FeS, a student predicts that 56 g of iron and 32 g of sulfur make 88 g of iron sulfide. They show that the total mass is the same on both sides of the equation.
Common Misconceptions
- Students may think a 1:1 mole ratio means the substances have equal masses. They may think matter disappears when gas escapes from an open container. Some change subscripts instead of coefficients when balancing an equation.
How to Assess It
- Exit ticket: For Fe + S → FeS, use Fe = 56 g/mol and S = 32 g/mol to predict the mass of FeS made from 56 g Fe and 32 g S. Show the total mass on each side.
Lesson moves
Ways to Teach It
Weigh a sealed zip bag containing a little vinegar and baking soda before mixing them inside the bag, then weigh it again.
Ask students to explain why a bubbling mixture might weigh less in an open cup but not in a sealed bag.
Give pairs Fe, S, and FeS mass cards, then have them match 56 g plus 32 g to 88 g.
Show a photo of a rusty nail and ask where its added mass came from.
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Related Standards
- CHE.7.7
Plan and conduct controlled scientific investigations to produce mathematical evidence that confirms that reactions involving gases conform to the law of conser...
- CHE.6.4
Use mathematics and computational analysis to support the claim that atoms, and therefore mass, are conserved during a chemical reaction. Give real-world exampl...
- P.7.5E.1
Conduct simple scientific investigations to show that total mass is not altered during a chemical reaction in a closed system. Compare results of investigations...
- PHS.4.2
Design and conduct investigations to produce evidence that mass is conserved in chemical reactions (e.g., vinegar and baking soda in a Ziploc© bag).
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