Which statement best describes what occurs during all chemical reactions according to 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 created during the reaction.
• D. Atoms are destroyed to form new substances.

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 each type of atom remains the same.
3. Therefore, the total mass of the reactants before the reaction must be equal to the total mass of the products after the reaction.
4. This means that no mass is lost or gained; it is conserved throughout the reaction process.
5. Conclude that the correct description is: The total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.