* Conservation of Mass: The Law of Conservation of Mass states that matter cannot be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical reactions. A balanced equation reflects this by ensuring that the same types and numbers of atoms are present on both sides of the equation.
Example:
The reaction of hydrogen gas (H₂) with oxygen gas (O₂) to produce water (H₂O) can be represented by this balanced chemical equation:
2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O
* Reactants: 2 molecules of hydrogen (4 hydrogen atoms) and 1 molecule of oxygen (2 oxygen atoms)
* Products: 2 molecules of water (4 hydrogen atoms and 2 oxygen atoms)
Notice that the number of hydrogen and oxygen atoms is the same on both sides of the equation, demonstrating the conservation of mass.
