Here's a breakdown:
* Matter: Anything that takes up space and has mass.
* Chemical and Physical Changes: Processes that alter the form or appearance of matter, but not its fundamental composition.
* Reactants: Substances that undergo a chemical reaction.
* Products: New substances formed from the reaction of reactants.
Examples:
* Burning wood: The wood (reactant) changes into ash, smoke, and gases (products). While the form of the wood changes, the total mass of the reactants (wood and oxygen) equals the total mass of the products (ash, smoke, and gases).
* Mixing salt and water: The salt (reactant) dissolves in the water (reactant) to form a saltwater solution (product). The mass of the salt and water before mixing will be the same as the mass of the saltwater solution.
Important Note: The Law of Conservation of Matter does not apply to nuclear reactions, where matter can be converted into energy, as explained by Einstein's famous equation E=mc².
