Balancing Equations

Front

What does it mean for an equation to be balanced?

Back

A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides, meaning mass is conserved.

Front

What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is the large number placed in front of a chemical formula that indicates how many molecules or atoms are involved.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the substances that undergo a chemical change, found on the left side of the equation.

Front

What are products in a chemical equation?

Back

Products are the substances formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of the equation.

Front

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

In the equation 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O, what are the reactants?

Back

The reactants are 2H2 and O2.

Front

In the equation 2H2 + O2 -> 2H2O, what are the products?

Back

The products are 2H2O.

Front

What does the arrow (->) in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The arrow represents the direction of the reaction, showing that reactants are transformed into products.

Front

What is a chemical formula?

Back

A chemical formula is a way of expressing the composition of a substance using symbols for its elements.

Front

What does it mean if an equation is not balanced?

Back

If an equation is not balanced, it means that the number of atoms of each element is not the same on both sides.