The Law of Conservation of Mass

The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, the mass of the system remains constant over time. This means that mass cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or rearranged. This fundamental principle is a key concept in the study of matter and its interactions. For example, in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the products formed is equal to the total mass of the reactants. This law was first formulated by Antoine Lavoisier in the late 18th century and has since become a cornerstone of modern science.

Understanding the law of conservation of mass is crucial for comprehending the behavior of matter and the principles of chemistry.