Balancing Chemical Equations

Question 5 • NC-Physical Science CR 2024

Which best describes the law of conservation of mass?

Answer

The coefficients in front of the chemicals in the reactants should be based on the physical state of the products.

Products in the form of gases are not considered a part of the total mass change from reactants to products.

When reactants contain both a solid and a liquid, the solid counts toward the overall mass and the liquid does not.

The mass of the reactants and products is equal and is not dependent on the physical state of the substances.

Explanation

The law of conservation of mass states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Therefore, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products, regardless of whether the substances are solids, liquids, or gases. Choice D correctly describes this principle; gases also count toward the total mass.

AI-written and checked against the verified answer.

More from this Course

Compounds

Changes of State

Lab: Physical and Chemical Changes