Question Video: Identifying Which Statement Correctly Describes Mass Being Conserved during a Chemical Reaction Science

Video Transcript

Which of the following statements best describes the way in which mass is conserved during chemical reactions? (A) The total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products plus the mass of oxygen. (B) The total mass of reactants is greater than the total mass of products. (C) The total mass of products is greater than the total mass of reactants. (D) The total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products. (E) The total mass of reactants is always the same as the solid products produced.

During chemical reactions, one or more substances called reactants are changed into one or more new substances called products. All chemical reactions abide by the law of conservation of mass. The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed during a chemical reaction. So, even though the reactants and products in a chemical reaction are different, the total mass of the reactants must be equal to the total mass of the products.

Therefore, the statement that best describes the way in which mass is conserved during chemical reactions is answer choice (D): the total mass of reactants is equal to the total mass of products.