In a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to form new molecules. However, atoms are neither created nor destroyed.

Question

What happens to the total mass of the atoms involved in a chemical reaction?
A.
It always changes as the atoms are rearranged into new molecules.
B.
It will increase if a new compound is formed during the reaction.
C.
It will decrease if two molecules combine to form a single compound.
D.
It will stay the same no matter how the atoms are rearranged.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

D. It will stay the same no matter how the atoms are rearranged.

In a chemical reaction, according to the law of conservation of mass, the total mass of the atoms in the reactants is equal to the total mass of the atoms in the products, meaning that mass is neither created nor destroyed during the reaction.