The law of conservation of mass states that ________.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The law of conservation of mass, formulated by Antoine Lavoisier in the 18th century, states that in a closed system, matter is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction. This principle implies that the mass of the reactants in a chemical reaction must equal the mass of the products. Choice A, "atoms cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction," most accurately reflects this principle, as atoms are the fundamental units of matter whose rearrangements account for chemical reactions. Choices B and C are incorrect because molecules and compounds can indeed be created and destroyed in chemical reactions through the rearrangement of atoms. Choice D is incorrect because it refers to the conservation of energy, not mass.

The Law of Conservation of Mass States That ________