Question

Which statement correctly compares the reactants and products of a chemical reaction?

a) "The products are always fewer in number than the reactants."
b) "The reactants and products have the same chemical properties."
c) "The reactants are completely converted into products."
d) "The mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products."

Answer 1

The correct statement comparing reactants and products in a chemical reaction is that the mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products, as dictated by the law of conservation of mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct statement that compares the reactants and products of a chemical reaction, based on the conservation of mass, is 'The mass of the reactants equals the mass of the products.' This principle implies that the chemical reaction should be balanced, meaning that the number of atoms of each element in the reactants is equal to the number of atoms of those same elements in the products.

In a balanced chemical reaction, no matter can be created or destroyed, it can only change forms, such as into different states like liquids, gases, or solids. The reactants are substances that enter into a reaction and are converted into different substances known as the products.