The reaction \( 4\text{Fe} + 3\text{O}_2 \rightarrow 2\text{Fe}_2\text{O}_3 \) represents:
C. a conservation of atoms
In this equation, the number of atoms of each element on the reactant side (4 Fe and 6 O) is equal to the number of atoms of each element on the product side (4 Fe and 6 O). This illustrates the law of conservation of mass, which states that atoms are neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.