The correct option is Antoine Lavoisier.
Explanation
The Law of Conservation of Mass is a fundamental principle in chemistry stating that mass can neither be created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. Consequently, the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products. This law provides the theoretical foundation for balancing chemical equations.Analysis of Options
- Antoine Lavoisier Antoine Lavoisier: Correct. Antoine Lavoisier, an 18th-century French chemist, is credited with proposing the Law of Conservation of Mass in 1789 based on his quantitative experiments with combustion and calcination.
- Joseph Proust Joseph Proust: Incorrect. Joseph Proust is associated with the Law of Definite Proportions, which states that a chemical compound always contains exactly the same proportion of elements by mass.
- Varahamihira Varahamihira: Incorrect. Varahamihira was an ancient Indian astronomer, mathematician, and polymath known for works like the Brihat Samhita. He is not linked to the formulation of modern chemical laws.
- John Dalton John Dalton: Incorrect. John Dalton proposed the Atomic Theory, which provided the microscopic explanation for the laws of chemical combination, including conservation of mass.
Key Takeaway:
Antoine Lavoisier is credited with the Law of Conservation of Mass, which dictates that the number of atoms of each element remains constant before and after a reaction.