Final answer:
The mass of the block of ice is equal to the total mass of the smaller pieces of ice, due to the Law of Conservation of Mass.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that describes the relationship between the mass of the block of ice and the mass of the small pieces of ice is that the mass of the block of ice was equal to the total mass of the smaller pieces of ice. This is because the Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction or physical conversion. When the ice block breaks into smaller pieces, no mass is lost; thus, the total mass of the small pieces will equal the mass of the original block of ice. Even if some melting occurred, the water resulting from the melted ice would still contribute to the total mass. Therefore, the correct answer is C.