Can atoms be destroyed? Justify your answer.

Explanation

**Step-by-Step Solution:**

1. **Understanding Atoms**: Atoms are the basic building blocks of matter. They are the smallest units of an element and consist of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

2. **Law of Conservation of Mass**: According to the law of conservation of mass, matter cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction. This means that the total mass of the reactants must equal the total mass of the products.

3. **Indestructibility of Atoms**: Atoms themselves cannot be created or destroyed in ordinary chemical reactions. They are considered indestructible. This means that during a chemical reaction, atoms are rearranged to form new substances, but the total number of atoms remains the same.

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