The correct statement that describes the first law of thermodynamics is:
c) The energy lost by a system is gained by the surroundings.
The first law of thermodynamics, also known as the law of energy conservation, states that energy cannot be created or destroyed in an isolated system. It can only be transformed from one form to another or transferred from one part of the system to another. This means that the total energy of the system and its surroundings remains constant.
In simpler terms, if a system loses energy, that energy is not lost but is instead gained by the surroundings. This principle is fundamental in understanding how energy flows and is conserved in various physical and chemical processes.