A 100 kg tree gets struck by lightning and is burned completely to ash. A scientist gathers up all the ash and weighs it to find only 90kg there. Where did the other 10kg go?

Question

Sheldon Graham

Chemistry

24 March, 10:11

A 100 kg tree gets struck by lightning and is burned completely to ash. A scientist gathers up all the ash and weighs it to find only 90kg there. Where did the other 10kg go?

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Answers (1)

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Sydnee Galloway · Answer 1

Evaporated via combustion.

Explanation:

The loss on ignition (LOI) and Ash content are inorganic analytical techniques used to determine the percentage by mass of hydrocarbon in compounds. This process allows volatile matter and possibly impurities found in a material to evaporate, leaving behind the true chemical constituents of the material.

The 10kg lost could be moisture content of the tree, or other volatile matter which has escaped on combustion of the tree.