What is the law of conservation of mass?

What is the law of conservation of mass?

• A. Mass can be created in a chemical reaction.
• B. Mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
• C. Mass can only be destroyed.
• D. Mass is only conserved in physical reactions.

Answer: (B)

The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, the mass of substances involved in a chemical reaction remains constant. This means that no matter how the reactants transform into products during the reaction, the total mass before and after the reaction is the same. This principle was established by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century and is fundamental to both chemistry and physics. When a chemical reaction occurs, the atoms that make up the reactants are rearranged to form the products, but the number of each type of atom remains the same, thus conserving mass. This principle is essential for understanding stoichiometry, where chemical equations must be balanced to reflect that mass is neither lost nor gained. Other responses suggest misconceptions about the creation or destruction of mass, which contradict the foundational principles of science. The law reaffirms the idea that matter is conserved in chemical processes, reinforcing its importance in studying material transformation in relation to the universe's laws.

The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, the mass of substances involved in a chemical reaction remains constant. This means that no matter how the reactants transform into products during the reaction, the total mass before and after the reaction is the same. This principle was established by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century and is fundamental to both chemistry and physics.

When a chemical reaction occurs, the atoms that make up the reactants are rearranged to form the products, but the number of each type of atom remains the same, thus conserving mass. This principle is essential for understanding stoichiometry, where chemical equations must be balanced to reflect that mass is neither lost nor gained.

Other responses suggest misconceptions about the creation or destruction of mass, which contradict the foundational principles of science. The law reaffirms the idea that matter is conserved in chemical processes, reinforcing its importance in studying material transformation in relation to the universe's laws.