Question

An example of a scientific law is the law of conservation of mass, which states that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Based on what you know about scientific laws in general, classify the following statements regarding the law of conservation of mass as true or false.A) It was developed from past observations
B) It is subject to experimentation and revision.
C) It explains why mass is conserved.
D) It predicts future observations.

Answer 1

Answer:

C) It explains why mass is conserved

Explanation:

The experimental studies carried out by Antoine Laurent Lavoisier led him to conclude that in a chemical reaction, which takes place in a closed system, the sum of the masses of the reagents is equal to the sum of the masses of the products, as in the following scheme:

m (reagents) = m (products)

* Where m represents mass

Thus, for example, when 4 grams of hydrogen (H) react with 16 grams of oxygen (O), 20 grams of water (H₂O) are formed.

So also if 14 grams of carbon (C) react with 34 grams of oxygen, 48 grams of carbon dioxide (CO₂) are formed.

In short, the law of conservation explains that the proportion, by mass, of the elements that participate in the composition of a substance is always constant and does not depend on the chemical process by which the substance is obtained.