Question
Law of Conservation of Matter
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The Law of Conservation of Matter, also known as the Law of Conservation of Mass, states that in any closed system, the total mass of the substances involved in a chemical reaction will remain constant over time, regardless of the processes taking place inside the system. This means that matter cannot be created or destroyed; it can only change forms.
In practical terms, when a chemical reaction occurs, the mass of the reactants (the starting materials) will be equal to the mass of the products (the resulting substances). This principle is fundamental to chemistry and is vital for balancing chemical equations.
The law was formulated in the late 18th century, primarily by Antoine Lavoisier, who conducted experiments that demonstrated that mass is conserved in chemical reactions. This law laid the groundwork for modern chemistry and has important implications in various scientific fields, including physics, engineering, and environmental science.
In practical terms, when a chemical reaction occurs, the mass of the reactants (the starting materials) will be equal to the mass of the products (the resulting substances). This principle is fundamental to chemistry and is vital for balancing chemical equations.
The law was formulated in the late 18th century, primarily by Antoine Lavoisier, who conducted experiments that demonstrated that mass is conserved in chemical reactions. This law laid the groundwork for modern chemistry and has important implications in various scientific fields, including physics, engineering, and environmental science.