Discover the Fundamentals of Stoichiometry: Law of Conservation of Mass

What is stoichiometry based on?

Is stoichiometry based on the law of conservation of mass or the law of conservation of energy?

Answer:

Stoichiometry is based on the law of conservation of mass

The principles of stoichiometry are based upon the law of conservation of mass. This law states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction, and the mass of the reactants will always be equal to the mass of the products.

The law of conservation of mass is a foundational principle in chemistry that dates back to the late 18th century. It was formulated after careful quantitative analysis of chemical reactions, leading to the understanding that matter cannot appear out of nowhere or vanish without a trace.

By adhering to the law of conservation of mass, chemists can accurately balance chemical equations and perform stoichiometric calculations with confidence. This law ensures that reactions follow a predictable path where the total mass of all substances involved remains constant throughout the process.