16. When electricity is passed through water, the following decomposition reaction can occur: 2H2O → 2H +02 What does the law of conservation of matter tell you about the ratios of particles in the chemical reaction? A The reacting substances must be the same as the substances produced. 8. The number of reactant molecules must equal the number of product molecules. The number of reactant compounds must equal the number of product compounds. D. The number of atoms of each element must be equal on both sides of the reaction arrow.

it can be observed without changing the identity of the object.

it depends on what substance you're talking about as well as many other factors. in quantum mechanics, the observation of particles affects the observers ability to measure certain properties. for example: you can know the velocity of a particle, but you can't know it's position; or you can know it's position, but not it's velocity. it's like trying to find out where a grain of sand is by throwing other grains of sand at it. once you find out where it is, it's been moved. it's also like trying to find an answer to the question of whether or not a tree falling in a forest makes a sound if nobody is there to hear it. paradoxically, the only way to find out is to be there and hear it.

it is the minimum amount of material needed to sustain a fission reaction.

critical mass is the minimum amount of fissionable material that must be assembled for a sustained fission reaction to take place. although two to three neutrons are produced for every fission, not all of these neutrons are available for continuing the fission reaction. if the conditions are such that the neutrons are lost at a faster rate than they are formed by fission, the chain reaction will not be self-sustaining.   at the point where the chain reaction can become self-sustaining, this is referred to as critical mass.