Are the Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Conservation of Matter describing the same phenomenon or different ideas?

1 answer

The Law of Conservation of Mass and the Law of Conservation of Matter describe the same phenomenon. Both laws state that the total mass or matter in a closed system remains constant and is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction or a physical change. The conservation of mass is a concept specifically applicable to chemical reactions, whereas the conservation of matter is a more general principle that encompasses both chemical and physical processes. Therefore, while the terminology may differ, the underlying concept remains the same.