Question

Why is the law of conservation of mass a scientific law and not a scientific theory?

Answer 1

The law of conservation of mass is a scientific law that states mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. It was formulated by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century and is supported by experimental evidence.

Step-by-step explanation:

The law of conservation of mass is a scientific law because it is based on repeated observations and experiments and has been found to be universally applicable. It states that the total mass of substances involved in a chemical reaction remains constant, meaning that mass is neither created nor destroyed. This law was formulated by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century and has been supported by countless experimental evidence since then. For example, when wood burns, the mass of the soot, ashes, and gases produced is equal to the mass of the original wood and the oxygen that reacted.

Answer 2

The law of conservation of mass, established by Antoine Lavoisier, states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, making it a scientific law. It is a consistent and observable phenomenon used to balance chemical equations, and unlike a theory, it summarizes a pattern without explaining it.

Step-by-step explanation:

The law of conservation of mass is a fundamental concept in chemistry, introduced by Antoine Lavoisier in the 1789. It dictates that during a chemical reaction, mass is neither created nor destroyed. This principle is the foundation of quantitative chemical analysis and is critical for balancing chemical equations. Unlike a scientific theory, which is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, a law describes a universally consistent relationship under certain conditions. The conservation of mass is a law because it is an observable and measurable phenomenon that applies to chemical reactions under normal conditions.

The distinction between a scientific law and a scientific theory can be summarized by understanding their roles in scientific discourse. A scientific law, like that of conservation of mass, summarizes a pattern found in nature without explaining it. A scientific theory, on the other hand, is an explanation that provides a deeper understanding of why that pattern exists. Since the law of conservation of mass is repeatedly confirmed by experiments and is universally consistent in chemical reactions, it holds its status as a law. It's a straightforward statement that the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products in a chemical equation.