Question

Why does a chemical equation need to be balanced in order to support the law of conservation of matter?

A) It has to show that the total amount of matter increases over time.
B) It has to show that atoms of a single element cannot form different compounds.
C) It has to show how existing matter can be destroyed by a chemical reaction.
D) It has to show that atoms cannot be created from nothing.

Answer 1

A chemical equation must be balanced to align with the law of conservation of matter, which stipulates that matter is neither created nor destroyed. Balancing ensures the same number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation, illustrating that mass is conserved through the reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

A chemical equation needs to be balanced in order to support the law of conservation of matter, which states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. The correct answer is D) It has to show that atoms cannot be created from nothing. In a balanced chemical equation, the number of atoms for each element in the reactants must equal the number of atoms for each element in the products. This ensures that the mass of the products equals the mass of the reactants, confirming that matter has been neither created nor destroyed, but merely transformed.

For example, the chemical reaction for the formation of water can be described by the equation: H₂(g) + O₂(g) → 2 H₂O(l). After balancing the equation, we can see that there are two hydrogen atoms and two oxygen atoms on both sides of the equation, showing that the conservation of mass is observed.