Question

Balancing of equations is based on:
A.) Avogadro’s number
B.) Principle of conservation of momentum
C.) Conditions for a chemical reaction to take place
D.) Law of conservation of mass or matter

Answer 1

Hint: A chemical reaction consists of reactants and products separated by an arrow which shows the direction of the reaction. Mass or matter can neither be created nor be destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Complete step by step answer:
A chemical reaction is a process that leads to the chemical transformation of one set of chemical substances to the other. Chemical reactions involve the change in position of electrons in the forming and breaking of chemical bonds between atoms. No change in nuclei takes place in the process, which means that no change in elements that are initially present. The substances initially involved in a chemical reaction are called reactants or reagents. Reactants react with each other to yield one or more products.
Reactions may proceed in the forward or reverse direction until they go to completion or reach equilibrium. Reactions that proceed in the forward direction to approach equilibrium are often described as spontaneous, requiring no input of free energy to go forward. Non-spontaneous reactions require input of free energy to go forward.
Reactions are balanced on the concept that mass or matter can neither be created nor be destroyed in a chemical reaction. Thus, the number of each element on the reactants side is equal to the number of each element on the product side. This is known as the law of conservation of mass or matter.

Hence, the correct answer is (D) Law of conservation of mass or matter

Note: Remember that in a nuclear reaction, mass is converted into energy by the formula \[E = m{c^2}\]. Thus, the number of each element on both sides need not be the same in nuclear reactions.