when paper is burned, the mass of the remaining ash is less than the mass of the original paper. which…

when paper is burned, the mass of the remaining ash is less than the mass of the original paper. which statement best explains this phenomenon? choose the correct answer. the ash has less volume than the paper. some of the matter is destroyed during the reaction. the mass of the ash cannot be accurately determined. some of the products of the reaction were given off as a gas.
Answer
Brief Explanations:
When paper burns, it undergoes a chemical reaction (combustion) producing gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor which escape into the air. The ash is the solid residue left, and since some products are released as gas, the mass of ash is less than the original paper. The first option is about volume (not mass), the second is wrong as matter isn't destroyed (law of conservation of mass), the third is about measurement accuracy which isn't the case here. So the correct explanation is that some products are given off as gas.
Answer:
D. Some of the products of the reaction were given off as a gas (assuming the options are labeled A - D with D being "Some of the products of the reaction were given off as a gas")