the law of conservation of matter emphasises that pollutants cannot be gotten rid of.?

Question

Explain with the support of examples and say why this presents an obstacle to environmental cleanup.

Answer 1

If I understand the law of conservation of matter right, you can not create or destroy matter. You can change it's form from one thing to another. Matter to energy or energy to matter given enough energy. That's how suns make new elements from old atoms around them. There is so much energy in a sun that it splits apart atoms and which causes the atoms to reform in new and more exotic forms. I hope this helped.

Answer 2

That is not so. Matter consists of elements and compounds of elements. Most pollutants are compounds that will break down into different compounds or elements. For example: A pollutant gas gets into the atmosphere and Ozone, which is a molecule of three atoms of Oxygen reacts with the pollutant, making it harmless. The Ozone is destroyed into double and single atoms of Oxygen which are reconverted into Ozone by lightning and solar radiation.
It is really the law of conservation of matter and energy.

Answer 3

There is not reall any such thing as a UNIVERSAL law governing the conservation of matter... only the conservation of energy... however due to the direct link between matter and energy as stated by einstein the two are often equated and therefore: The law of conservation of mass (the Lomonosov-Lavoisier law) which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed, but can change its form, was stated. But of course when using E=MC2 as in the nuclear reaction this law breaks down so it is not universal as is the law of conservation of energy...

... a piece of matter (say a polutant) can be converted from matter as it is to a different form of matter but it can also be "destroyed" in the sense it can be partially or completely converted to energy... but the energy contained in that matter as per E=MC2 cannot be destroyed only changed to a different form of energy... (or back to matter?? bit fuzzy on that part :/) This of course is a particularly difficult, dangerous and powerful process to perform, beside being impractical in this context... so we use chemical reactions to deal with pollutants...

Where chemical transformations are concerned the law upholds...

This means that the pollutant cannot be "removed" merely converted to another form of matter, as in the chemical reaction forming a rubber like compound out of oil (used for oil spills). I would say that the biggest hurdle is considering how it is we convert one form of pollution into something useful (that we would not define as just another pollutant). After all, if we convert oil spills into a "rubber like" compound only to stuff it in a landfill, we haven't really solved anything, only moved the poluttant from one place to another...

Answer 4

Another brainless assumption, based on flawed reasoning. Basically the law of conservation of matter and energy is:

1. In the Universe there is a finite amount of matter and energy. We cannot create any new matter or energy nor can we destroy any of the matter or energy we have for the Universe as a whole.

2. We can change matter to energy and energy to matter without gaining or losing any of either to the Universe. Examples:

3. Energy can be changed in form, from one to another, without any loss to the Universe. Examples:

4. Matter can be changed in form, or state, without any loss of matter to the Universe.

Therefore, any form of matter, including pollutants can be broken down into their constituent chemicals, or rendered harmless by the addition or substraction of other substances. It may not be cheap, but it's possible.