Chemical Reactions and Equations Review

Front

What is a chemical reaction?

Back

A chemical reaction is a process in which substances (reactants) are transformed into different substances (products) through the breaking and forming of chemical bonds.

Front

What is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction; the total mass of reactants equals the total mass of products.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the starting substances in a chemical reaction that undergo change to form products.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Products are the substances that are formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

Back

Balancing a chemical equation means ensuring that the number of atoms of each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is a number placed in front of a chemical formula in an equation to indicate how many molecules or moles of that substance are involved in the reaction.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

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A subscript is a small number written to the right of a chemical symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

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How do you determine the total number of atoms in a compound?

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To determine the total number of atoms in a compound, multiply the number of atoms of each element by its subscript and sum them up.

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What is the difference between a balanced and unbalanced equation?

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A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides, while an unbalanced equation does not.

Front

What is the significance of the arrow in a chemical equation?

Back

The arrow in a chemical equation indicates the direction of the reaction, showing the conversion of reactants to products.