What does the law of conservation of mass state?

The law of conservation of mass states that in a closed system, the total mass remains constant during a chemical reaction. This principle asserts that matter cannot be created or destroyed; rather, it is rearranged to form new compounds. For example, if you start with a certain amount of reactants, the total mass of the products will equal the total mass of those reactants, regardless of the changes that occur during the reaction. This concept is essential in understanding chemical equations, as it ensures that the number of atoms on each side of the equation remains balanced.

In this context, the other statements do not align with the established scientific understanding of mass. The idea that mass can be created or destroyed contradicts the first principle, while the suggestion that mass is influenced by energy touches on concepts related to mass-energy equivalence rather than conservation. The claim about mass always increasing in a closed system is misleading, as it overlooks the principle that the total mass remains consistent unless an external factor disrupts the system.