human
What is the principle used to balance chemical equations?
gpt
The principle used to balance chemical equations is based on the Law of conservation of mass, where the same number and type of atoms are present before and after the reaction.
Explanation: The Law of conservation of mass or matter states that total mass or matter in an isolated system remains constant over time and does not decrease or increase, only changes state. This means the equal number of the same atoms must be accounted for before and after a chemical reaction occurs, allowing us to determine if a chemical equation is properly balanced.