Click the button below to see similar posts for other categories

Why Do Chemical Reactions Follow the Law of Conservation of Mass?

Chemical reactions follow a rule called the Law of Conservation of Mass. This rule says that matter cannot be made or destroyed.

Here’s what that means:

  1. The total mass of the starting materials (called reactants) is equal to the total mass of the ending materials (called products).

  2. A balanced chemical equation shows this conservation. For example, when hydrogen and oxygen react to make water, it looks like this:
    2H2+O22H2O2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O

  3. Research shows that in closed systems, which don’t exchange matter with their surroundings, any changes in mass are tiny—less than 0.01%.

Knowing this law is important. It helps us predict what will happen in reactions and understand how chemical processes work.

Related articles

Similar Categories
Chemical Reactions for University Chemistry for EngineersThermochemistry for University Chemistry for EngineersStoichiometry for University Chemistry for EngineersGas Laws for University Chemistry for EngineersAtomic Structure for Year 10 Chemistry (GCSE Year 1)The Periodic Table for Year 10 Chemistry (GCSE Year 1)Chemical Bonds for Year 10 Chemistry (GCSE Year 1)Reaction Types for Year 10 Chemistry (GCSE Year 1)Atomic Structure for Year 11 Chemistry (GCSE Year 2)The Periodic Table for Year 11 Chemistry (GCSE Year 2)Chemical Bonds for Year 11 Chemistry (GCSE Year 2)Reaction Types for Year 11 Chemistry (GCSE Year 2)Constitution and Properties of Matter for Year 12 Chemistry (AS-Level)Bonding and Interactions for Year 12 Chemistry (AS-Level)Chemical Reactions for Year 12 Chemistry (AS-Level)Organic Chemistry for Year 13 Chemistry (A-Level)Inorganic Chemistry for Year 13 Chemistry (A-Level)Matter and Changes for Year 7 ChemistryChemical Reactions for Year 7 ChemistryThe Periodic Table for Year 7 ChemistryMatter and Changes for Year 8 ChemistryChemical Reactions for Year 8 ChemistryThe Periodic Table for Year 8 ChemistryMatter and Changes for Year 9 ChemistryChemical Reactions for Year 9 ChemistryThe Periodic Table for Year 9 ChemistryMatter for Gymnasium Year 1 ChemistryChemical Reactions for Gymnasium Year 1 ChemistryThe Periodic Table for Gymnasium Year 1 ChemistryOrganic Chemistry for Gymnasium Year 2 ChemistryInorganic Chemistry for Gymnasium Year 2 ChemistryOrganic Chemistry for Gymnasium Year 3 ChemistryPhysical Chemistry for Gymnasium Year 3 ChemistryMatter and Energy for University Chemistry IChemical Reactions for University Chemistry IAtomic Structure for University Chemistry IOrganic Chemistry for University Chemistry IIInorganic Chemistry for University Chemistry IIChemical Equilibrium for University Chemistry II
Click HERE to see similar posts for other categories

Why Do Chemical Reactions Follow the Law of Conservation of Mass?

Chemical reactions follow a rule called the Law of Conservation of Mass. This rule says that matter cannot be made or destroyed.

Here’s what that means:

  1. The total mass of the starting materials (called reactants) is equal to the total mass of the ending materials (called products).

  2. A balanced chemical equation shows this conservation. For example, when hydrogen and oxygen react to make water, it looks like this:
    2H2+O22H2O2H_2 + O_2 \rightarrow 2H_2O

  3. Research shows that in closed systems, which don’t exchange matter with their surroundings, any changes in mass are tiny—less than 0.01%.

Knowing this law is important. It helps us predict what will happen in reactions and understand how chemical processes work.

Related articles