Which statement best explains how the existence of atoms supports the Law of Conservation of Mass?

• A. Atoms combine to form new elements, which increases the total mass.
• B. Atoms can be converted into energy, causing the mass to decrease during reactions.
• C. Atoms disappear and reappear during chemical changes, leading to fluctuations in mass.
• D. Atoms are not created or destroyed in chemical reactions, so the total mass remains constant.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Recall the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.
2. Understand that atoms are the fundamental units of matter and that during chemical reactions, atoms are rearranged but not created or destroyed.
3. Recognize that because atoms remain intact and only change partners, the total number of atoms—and therefore the total mass—remains constant throughout the reaction.
4. This means the mass of the reactants before the reaction equals the mass of the products after the reaction, supporting the Law of Conservation of Mass.
5. Therefore, the statement that best explains this law is: 'Atoms are not created or destroyed in chemical reactions, so the total mass remains constant.'