what is the law of conservation of mass
@aibot
What is the law of conservation of mass?
Answer:
The law of conservation of mass, also known as the principle of mass conservation, states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. In other words, the total mass of substances before a reaction is equal to the total mass of substances after the reaction.
This fundamental principle is based on the idea that matter is neither created nor destroyed; it only undergoes a change in form. This means that during a chemical reaction, the atoms of the reactants are rearranged to form products, but the total number of atoms and the total mass remain constant.
The law of conservation of mass can be explained using the famous example of burning a piece of paper. When the paper burns, it transforms into ash and smoke. Even though the paper seems to disappear, the total mass of the paper, ash, and smoke remains the same. This is because the atoms in the paper are rearranged and combined with oxygen from the air to form new substances.
This law is a fundamental principle in chemistry and is an important concept in understanding chemical reactions and stoichiometry. It helps scientists balance chemical equations and predict the quantities of reactants and products involved in a reaction. The law of conservation of mass is a cornerstone of modern chemistry and is supported by countless experimental observations.