The scientist who stated that matter can be converted into energy is?

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks who stated that matter can be converted into energy. This is about the relationship between mass and energy.

Step 2: Explain the concept Albert Einstein, in his theory of special relativity (1905), showed that mass and energy are equivalent and interchangeable. This is expressed in the famous equation:

E = mc²

where:

• E = energy (joules)
• m = mass (kg)
• c = speed of light (about 3 × 10⁸ m/s)

This explains nuclear reactions (fission and fusion), where a small amount of mass is converted into a huge amount of energy.

Step 3: Check each option

• A. Boyle: Robert Boyle gave Boyle's law, relating the pressure and volume of a gas at constant temperature. It has nothing to do with converting matter to energy.
• B. Lavoisier: He proposed the law of conservation of mass, which says matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction. This is a different idea from converting matter to energy.
• C. Avogadro: He proposed that equal volumes of gases at the same temperature and pressure contain equal numbers of molecules.
• D. Einstein: He established the mass-energy equivalence, E = mc². This matches the question.

Step 4: Answer The correct answer is D. Einstein.

Exam tip: Match each scientist to a key idea:

• Boyle → pressure and volume
• Lavoisier → conservation of mass
• Avogadro → equal volumes, equal numbers of molecules
• Einstein → E = mc² (mass becomes energy)

Whenever you see "matter into energy", think of E = mc² and Einstein.