Question

plants use sunlight as energy to convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose and oxygen. which best describes the reaction?
the law of conservation of mass indicates the same amount of carbon will be found in the reactants as in the products.
the law of conservation of energy indicates the same amount of carbon will be found in the reactants as in the products.
the law of conservation of mass indicates the same amount of glucose will be found in the reactants as in the products.
the law of conservation of energy indicates the same amount of glucose will be found in the reactants as in the products.

Explanation:

1. Recall the laws: The law of conservation of mass states that mass (and thus atoms of elements) is conserved in a chemical reaction, meaning the amount of each element in reactants equals that in products. The law of conservation of energy relates to energy transfer, not element amounts.
2. Analyze the reaction: In photosynthesis (plants converting CO₂ and H₂O to glucose and O₂), carbon is an element in reactants (CO₂) and products (glucose). Glucose is a product, not a reactant, so options about glucose in reactants are wrong. The law of conservation of energy doesn't apply to element amounts. So the correct statement is about conservation of mass and carbon.

Answer:

The law of conservation of mass indicates the same amount of carbon will be found in the reactants as in the products.