Which statement best explains how mixing water and sugar supports the law of conservation of mass?

• A. The mass of the solution is less than the sum of the masses of water and sugar due to dissolution.
• B. The total mass of the solution equals the combined mass of water and sugar before mixing.
• C. The mass of the solution cannot be measured after mixing.
• D. The mass of the solution increases because new substances are formed during mixing.

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the law of conservation of mass, which states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a closed system during a chemical or physical process.
2. Understand that when sugar dissolves in water, it is a physical change, not a chemical reaction, so no new substances are formed.
3. Recognize that the total mass of the solution after mixing should be the sum of the individual masses of water and sugar before mixing, because no mass is lost or gained.
4. Evaluate the given statements by comparing them to the law of conservation of mass: the correct explanation must reflect that the total mass remains constant.
5. Conclude that the statement 'The total mass of the solution equals the combined mass of water and sugar before mixing' best supports the law of conservation of mass.