Parents SHOULDN'T avoid sharing their own mistakes with children.
The best explanation would be that Gases were released during the Chemical reaction, causing a loss of Mass.
1) Carbon dioxide is a gas, so when 
is evolved in the reaction, it appears as bubbles. The gas released extinguishes the fire and it can turn lime water milky.
2) When 
is released in a decomposition reaction we can identify by the strong pungent smell of the gas released.
3) Saturated citric acid can cause corrosion of the metal layers present in the pipes. So, before draining out any acid it is neutralized so that the pipes and other plumbing works do not get damaged leading to leaks in the drainage system.
Such ions are said to be isoelectronic
