Final answer:
The correct sentence reflecting the law of conservation of mass is that in a chemical reaction, atoms can be rearranged, but the total mass of each type of atom never changes, signifying that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.
Step-by-step explanation:
The sentence that is a statement of the law of conservation of mass is: In a chemical reaction, atoms can be rearranged, but the total mass of each type of atom never changes. This law states that during a chemical reaction, the total mass of the products must be equal to the total mass of the reactants. Mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it is always conserved.
Whether we are burning charcoal or combining chemicals in a laboratory, the mass of the substances involved before the reaction will be the same as the mass of the substances after the reaction. The stoichiometry of a reaction, which refers to the measure of the elements involved in the reaction, is predicated on this foundational principle.
Chemical changes involving matter result in the rearrangement of atoms. The substance's form may change, but the mass remains constant. The law of conservation of mass is one of the fundamental principles underpinning modern chemistry.