The Chemistry Book

Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass or matter is neither created nor destroyed.^[1] In other words, this law basically means that matter cannot just pop up out of nowhere, nor can it disappear (unless matter comes in contact with antimatter, but under different circumstances). The law of conservation of mass is very important in chemistry because it assist scientists with chemical equations. This law was also the "key" to establishing chemistry as a main science instead of being an offshoot of its predecessor, alchemy. ^{CITATION REQUIRED}

History

Many individuals learn about this law without being informed of its back story. The law of conservation of mass's history began with a Greek philosopher called Epicurus.^[2] Epicurus stated that,"The sum total of a thing was always such as it is now, and such it will ever remain." However, over time many scientists had proved the same theory (theory or law?). For example; in the 13th century, a man named Nasiraddin Tusi, stated that, "No body of matter can disappear completely; it only changes its form, condition, composition, color, other properties, and turn into a different complex or elementary matter." ^[3] However, in 1789 the law of conservation mass was officially established by Antoine Lavoisier. ^[4] The law of conservation of mass was also known as the Lomonosov Lavoisier law, which stated that,"Even though matter may change in form, it can't be created nor destroyed."^[5]The law of conservation of matter began with the help of the Phlogiston theory.^[6]

Expand: What were Lomonosov and Lavoisier's contributions?

With Phlogiston theory, Lavoisier was able to conclude, that the mass of the product in a reaction must equal to the mass of the reaction.^[7] This is a different way of saying that, some of the matter in the equation didn't disappear and didn't appear; but rather change into a different form of matter. After the law of conservation of mass, the ideas of chemical elements, process of fire and oxidations, and many other basics chemical principles became clear.

Today, this law is significant to Chemistry because it allows many individuals to clarify that their chemical equations are balanced. Keeping chemical equations balanced is important because it correctly states that the reactant has an equal number of molecules (atoms?) to the product of the reaction.^[8] In other words, in a chemical reaction the atoms are neither created nor destroyed. Therefore, in a chemical equation the product of the reaction must equate to the reactants.^[9] The law of conservation of mass has been accepted as a proven theory for many centuries. (No, laws are summaries of observations; theories are explanations and science never proves!) However in further research, this law could be proven with the help of the theories of relativity and anti-matter(When anti-matter and matter react to each other, both are annihilated. Therefore ceasing to exist). ^{CITATION REQUIRED} For now, the law of conservation of mass is very helpful in solving chemical formulas and equations because the law ensures the restrictions of adding and subtracting the atoms from problems by reorganizing the atoms instead. This law is also used as a reference in discovering future principles, or further understanding of them. ^{Awkward sentence}

References

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