Which statement is true regarding a chemical reaction?(1 point)
Responses
Even if the total number of atoms changes, mass may not be conserved in the reaction.
Even if the total number of atoms changes, mass may not be conserved in the reaction.
The total number of atoms changes, so mass is conserved in the reaction.
The total number of atoms changes, so mass is conserved in the reaction.
The total number of atoms does not change, so mass is conserved in the reaction.
The total number of atoms does not change, so mass is conserved in the reaction.
Even if the total number of atoms does not change, mass may not be conserved in the reaction.
Even if the total number of atoms does not change, mass may not be conserved in the reaction.
The correct response is: Even if the total number of atoms changes, mass may not be conserved in the reaction.
The correct statement regarding a chemical reaction is: "The total number of atoms does not change, so mass is conserved in the reaction."
To understand why this statement is true, we need to understand the concept of a balanced chemical equation. In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation is equal. This means that the total number of atoms in the reactants is equal to the total number of atoms in the products.
Mass conservation is based on the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, in a balanced chemical equation, since the number of atoms on both sides is equal, the mass of the reactants must be equal to the mass of the products.
In contrast, the other statements are not true because they suggest that mass may not be conserved in a chemical reaction, either when the total number of atoms changes or when it does not change. However, in a properly balanced chemical equation, the total number of atoms remains the same, and mass must be conserved.