Which statement best explains how a chemical reaction obeys the law of conservation of mass?

• A. The total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.
• B. The mass of the products is always greater than the mass of the reactants.
• C. Energy is converted into mass, increasing the total mass after the reaction.
• D. Atoms are destroyed during the reaction, causing a loss of mass.

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
2. Recognize that during a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged but the total number of atoms remains the same.
3. Realize that because atoms are neither created nor destroyed, the total mass of all reactants must be equal to the total mass of all products.
4. Evaluate the given statements by comparing them to the law: the statement that the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products aligns with the law.
5. Conclude that the correct explanation is that the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products, reflecting the conservation of mass.