A scientist is conducting an experiment where a chemical reaction doubles the mass of a substance every hour. If the initial mass is 5 grams, what will the mass be after 6 hours?

Sun, 03 May 2026 16:42:38 +0000

**A scientist is conducting an experiment where a chemical reaction doubles the mass of a substance every hour. If the initial mass is 5 grams, what will the mass be after 6 hours?** Scientists and curious minds across the U.S. are increasingly fascinated by exponential growth—why something multiplies so rapidly over time, even in everyday lab settings. This particular experiment mirrors fascinating real-world chemical reactions that challenge intuition, revealing how small amounts can transform dramatically even within just a few hours. With a starting point of 5 grams, understanding the pattern behind the doubling offers clear, concrete insight into one of nature’s most predictable yet surprising behaviors. The experiment is modeled on autocatalytic or chain-reaction processes where mass increases precisely 100%—or doubles—each hour. That means every hour, the current mass receives a copy of itself, effectively multiplying by two. Starting at 5 grams, this pattern reveals a clear arithmetic rhythm: instead of a gradual rise, the increase accelerates rapidly. After each hour, the cumulative mass becomes double the prior total. Let’s walk through the timeline step by step: