What principle states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction?

What principle states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction?

• A. Law of Conservation of Energy
• B. Conservation of Mass
• C. Law of Independent Assortment
• D. Principle of Relativity

Answer: (B)

The principle that states mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction is known as the Conservation of Mass. This fundamental concept implies that in a closed system, the total mass of the reactants before a reaction will equal the total mass of the products after the reaction. This principle is crucial in chemical equations, as it ensures that atoms are simply rearranged during a reaction rather than being created or annihilated, which underpins stoichiometry and the balance of reactions. In contrast, the Law of Conservation of Energy pertains to the idea that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. While it is also a fundamental principle in physics, it does not specifically address mass in chemical processes. The Law of Independent Assortment relates to genetics rather than physical science and describes how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop. Lastly, the Principle of Relativity refers to the laws of physics as observed in different inertial frames and does not pertain to mass in chemical reactions. Hence, the Conservation of Mass is the correct principle associated with the idea that mass remains constant during chemical reactions.

The principle that states mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction is known as the Conservation of Mass. This fundamental concept implies that in a closed system, the total mass of the reactants before a reaction will equal the total mass of the products after the reaction. This principle is crucial in chemical equations, as it ensures that atoms are simply rearranged during a reaction rather than being created or annihilated, which underpins stoichiometry and the balance of reactions.

In contrast, the Law of Conservation of Energy pertains to the idea that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. While it is also a fundamental principle in physics, it does not specifically address mass in chemical processes. The Law of Independent Assortment relates to genetics rather than physical science and describes how different genes independently separate from one another when reproductive cells develop. Lastly, the Principle of Relativity refers to the laws of physics as observed in different inertial frames and does not pertain to mass in chemical reactions. Hence, the Conservation of Mass is the correct principle associated with the idea that mass remains constant during chemical reactions.