Question

In any chemical reaction, the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products. This result forms the basis of the Law of Conservation of Mass. Which statement correctly explains why this is a law, rather than a theory?

a) It has more scientific evidence supporting it.
b) It has both independent and dependent variables.
c) It has been tested with the latest laboratory balances, which are very accurate.
d) It describes a repeatedly observed relationship, but it does not offer an explanation.

Answer 1

The law of conservation of mass states that during a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products. This law is considered a law rather than a theory because it describes a repeatedly observed relationship, but it does not offer an explanation for why mass is conserved in chemical reactions.

Step-by-step explanation:

The law of conservation of mass states that during a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants equals the total mass of the products. This law is considered a law rather than a theory because it describes a repeatedly observed relationship, but it does not offer an explanation for why mass is conserved in chemical reactions. It is based on scientific evidence obtained from accurate and reproducible measurements of the masses of reacting elements and compounds. For example, if you burn a piece of paper, the mass of the ash and any gases produced will be equal to the mass of the original paper.