What does the law of conservation of mass state?

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction or physical process. This fundamental principle implies that the total mass of the reactants consumed in a reaction will always equal the total mass of the products formed.

For instance, if you take a chemical reaction such as the combustion of wood, the mass of the wood and oxygen that react will equal the mass of the ash, gases, and any other products generated from that reaction. This concept is crucial in balancing chemical equations, where it ensures that both sides of the equation reflect the same mass, emphasizing that matter is conserved throughout any transformation.

Understanding this law is essential for studying chemistry and physics, as it lays the groundwork for further scientific principles related to matter and energy transformations.