The Law of Conservation of Matter states that matter cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another. When gasoline is burned in a car engine, it undergoes a chemical reaction with oxygen from the air, producing carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other byproducts. According to this law, the total mass of the reactants (gasoline and oxygen) must be equal to the total mass of the products (carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other byproducts). In other words, the mass of the gasoline that is burned is not destroyed during the combustion process, but rather transformed into other substances. This is crucial because it means that the amount of gasoline that is burned in a car engine can be directly related to the amount of carbon dioxide that is produced as a result. This is important for understanding the environmental impact of burning gasoline, as carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change.