---
title: "SC3: Law of Conservation of Matter (Georgia Science standard)"
code: SC3
cite_as: Georgia Standards of Excellence, Science, SC3
subject: science
grades:
  - high-school
language: en
canonical_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SC3
md_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/code/SC3.md
alternate_language_url: https://georgiahomeroom.org/es/standards/code/SC3.md
source_url: https://case.georgiastandards.org/ims/case/v1p1/CFDocuments/27a08dc6-416e-11e7-ba71-02bd89fdd987
source_last_changed: 2025-05-29
data_built: 2026-09-18
publisher: Georgia Homeroom, a free public-interest project of Georgia Civic Data. Not affiliated with or endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education or any school district.
up: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md
index: https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/index.md
---

# SC3: Law of Conservation of Matter

Obtain, evaluate, and communicate information about how the Law of Conservation of Matter is used to determine chemical composition in compounds and chemical reactions.

- Subject: Science
- Appears in: High School, https://georgiahomeroom.org/standards/science/high-school.md

## Expectations

- **SC3.a**: Use mathematics and computational thinking to balance chemical reactions (i.e., synthesis, decomposition, single replacement, double replacement, and combustion) and construct an explanation for the outcome of a simple chemical reaction based on the outermost electron states of atoms, trends in the periodic table, and knowledge of the patterns of chemical properties.
- **SC3.b**: Plan and carry out an investigation to determine that a new chemical has been formed by identifying indicators of a chemical reaction (e.g., precipitate formation, gas evolution, color change, water production, and changes in energy to the system).
- **SC3.c**: Use mathematics and computational thinking to apply concepts of the mole and Avogadro's number to conceptualize and calculate * percent composition * empirical/molecular formulas * mass, moles, and molecules relationships * molar volumes of gases
- **SC3.d**: Use mathematics and computational thinking to identify and solve different types of reaction stoichiometry problems (i.e., mass to moles, mass to mass, moles to moles, and percent yield) using significant figures.
- **SC3.e**: Plan and carry out an investigation to demonstrate the conceptual principle of limiting reactants.

## Georgia Milestones coverage

No Georgia Milestones blueprint cites this standard.

Source: Georgia Standards of Excellence, published by the Georgia Department of Education at case.georgiastandards.org.