If matter were not conserved and chemical reactions were not balanced, which of the following would most likely occur?

• A. All reactions would proceed at a much faster rate.
• B. Atoms would spontaneously disappear or appear during reactions.
• C. The total mass of reactants and products could be different, violating the Law of Conservation of Mass.
• D. Chemical reactions would always produce more products than reactants.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the Law of Conservation of Mass, which states that in a chemical reaction, matter is neither created nor destroyed. This means the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products.
2. Recognize that chemical reactions are balanced to ensure the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation, reflecting the conservation of atoms.
3. Consider what would happen if matter were not conserved and reactions were not balanced: atoms could appear or disappear, leading to a change in total mass during the reaction.
4. Realize that if atoms spontaneously disappeared or appeared, the total mass of reactants and products would differ, violating the Law of Conservation of Mass.
5. Conclude that the most likely consequence of matter not being conserved and reactions not being balanced is that the total mass of reactants and products could be different, which contradicts fundamental chemical principles.