6. Outline the Law of Conservation of Mass.

The Law of Conservation of Mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the total mass of the reactants in a chemical reaction is always equal to the total mass of the products. <br /><br />Here's a breakdown:<br /><br />* **Closed System:** The law applies to a closed system, meaning no matter can enter or leave. Think of a sealed container where a reaction takes place.<br />* **Rearrangement of Atoms:** Chemical reactions involve the rearrangement of atoms. Atoms are not created or destroyed, simply reorganized into different molecules.<br />* **Constant Mass:** Because the same number and types of atoms are present before and after the reaction, the total mass remains constant.<br /><br />Example: If you burn a piece of wood (reactant) in a closed container, the mass of the ash, smoke, and gases produced (products) will equal the original mass of the wood and the oxygen consumed during burning.<br />