<P> An important idea in ancient Greek philosophy was that "Nothing comes from nothing", so that what exists now has always existed: no new matter can come into existence where there was none before . An explicit statement of this, along with the further principle that nothing can pass away into nothing, is found in Empedocles (approx. 490--430 BC): "For it is impossible for anything to come to be from what is not, and it cannot be brought about or heard of that what is should be utterly destroyed ." </P> <P> A further principle of conservation was stated by Epicurus (341--270 BC) who, describing the nature of the Universe, wrote that "the totality of things was always such as it is now, and always will be". </P> <P> Jain philosophy, a non-creationist philosophy based on the teachings of Mahavira (6th century BC), states that the universe and its constituents such as matter cannot be destroyed or created . The Jain text Tattvarthasutra (2nd century AD) states that a substance is permanent, but its modes are characterised by creation and destruction . A principle of the conservation of matter was also stated by Nasīr al - Dīn al - Tūsī (1201--1274). He wrote that "A body of matter cannot disappear completely . It only changes its form, condition, composition, color and other properties and turns into a different complex or elementary matter". </P> <P> The principle of conservation of mass was first outlined by Mikhail Lomonosov (1711--1765) in 1748 . He proved it by experiments--though this is sometimes challenged . Antoine Lavoisier (1743--1794) had expressed these ideas in 1774 . Others whose ideas pre-dated the work of Lavoisier include Joseph Black (1728--1799), Henry Cavendish (1731--1810), and Jean Rey (1583--1645). </P>

The law of conservation of matter is given by the scientist