E explain the law of conversation of mass in chemistry
The law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants must be equal to the total mass of the products. This means that mass is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction; it is merely transformed from one form to another.
In other words, the total number of atoms before the reaction must be equal to the total number of atoms after the reaction. Atoms can rearrange and recombine to form new substances, but the total number of each type of atom remains constant.
This law is based on the principle that atoms are indivisible and cannot be created or destroyed. During a chemical reaction, the bonds between atoms break and new bonds form, resulting in the formation of different substances. However, the total number of atoms in the reactants must be conserved in the products.
By adhering to the law of conservation of mass, chemists can accurately balance chemical equations, determining the stoichiometric coefficients required for a reaction. This law is fundamental to understanding and predicting the outcomes of chemical reactions.