Which of the following best describes the law of conservation of mass?

• A. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
• B. The total charge in a closed system remains constant during a chemical reaction.
• C. The volume of gases remains constant during a chemical reaction.
• D. Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the law of conservation of mass states that in a chemical reaction, matter is neither created nor destroyed.
2. Recognize that this means the total mass of the reactants before the reaction must equal the total mass of the products after the reaction.
3. Note that this law is fundamental to balancing chemical equations, ensuring the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides.
4. Distinguish this law from other conservation laws, such as conservation of energy or charge, which are related but describe different properties.
5. Conclude that the correct description of the law of conservation of mass is: 'Mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.'