Which is a correct statement of the law of conservation of energy?

• A. Energy is neither lost nor gained by an object.
• B. Energy is stored as matter.
• C. The energy lost by a system is gained by the surroundings.
• D. The energy gained by a system is also gained by the surroundings.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the law of conservation of energy: It states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another or transferred between systems and surroundings.
2. Analyze the given statements: The first statement suggests energy is neither lost nor gained, which is partially correct but lacks the context of energy transfer.
3. Consider the second statement: Energy stored as matter is related to mass-energy equivalence (E=mc^2), not directly to the conservation of energy in typical chemical processes.
4. Evaluate the third statement: It correctly describes the conservation of energy in a closed system, where energy lost by the system is gained by the surroundings, maintaining the total energy constant.
5. Review the fourth statement: It incorrectly suggests that energy gained by a system is also gained by the surroundings, which contradicts the conservation principle as energy would be duplicated, not conserved.