Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced equation?

Back

A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

Front

How do you determine if an equation is balanced?

Back

Count the number of atoms of each element on both sides of the equation. If they are equal, the equation is balanced.

Front

What is the total number of atoms in H₂SO₄?

Back

There are 7 atoms in total: 2 Hydrogen (H), 1 Sulfur (S), and 4 Oxygen (O).

Front

How many aluminum atoms are in the equation 4Al + 3O₂ → 2Al₂O₃?

Back

There are 4 aluminum atoms on the left side and 4 aluminum atoms on the right side.

Front

What is the first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products.

Front

What does the coefficient in a chemical equation represent?

Back

The coefficient indicates the number of molecules or moles of a substance involved in the reaction.

Front

Balance the equation: _Al + _HCl → _H₂ + _AlCl₃

Back

2Al + 6HCl → 3H₂ + 2AlCl₃.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

To ensure that the law of conservation of mass is upheld, meaning that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

In the reaction PCl₅ + ___ H₂O → ___ HCl + H₃PO₄, how many H₂O molecules are needed?

Back

4 H₂O molecules are needed.

Front

What is the significance of subscripts in a chemical formula?

Back

Subscripts indicate the number of atoms of each element in a molecule.