Question

specific mass conversions quick check
how does stoichiometry support the law of conservation of mass? (1 point)
it compares the mass of the products to the number of atoms in the products.
it compares the mass of each reactant to the mass of each product.
it compares the mass of the products to the mass of the reactants.
it compares the mass of the reactants to the number of moles of reactants.

Explanation:

Stoichiometry is about the quantitative relationships in chemical reactions. The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. By comparing the mass of the products to the mass of the reactants (using stoichiometric calculations like mole - mass conversions based on balanced chemical equations), we can verify if mass is conserved. For example, in a reaction \(aA + bB
ightarrow cC + dD\), using molar masses \(M_A,M_B,M_C,M_D\), the mass of reactants \(m_{reactants}=n_A\times M_A + n_B\times M_B\) (where \(n_A,n_B\) are moles of \(A\) and \(B\) from stoichiometric ratios) and mass of products \(m_{products}=n_C\times M_C + n_D\times M_D\). If the equation is balanced (stoichiometrically correct), \(m_{reactants}=m_{products}\), supporting the law of conservation of mass.

Answer:

It compares the mass of the products to the mass of the reactants.