Physical Science: Balancing Equations

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What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

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

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What are reactants in a chemical reaction?

Back

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

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What is a product in a chemical reaction?

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A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

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What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

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

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What does it mean to balance a chemical equation?

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Balancing a chemical equation means adjusting the coefficients to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is the same on both sides of the equation.

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What is the law of conservation of mass?

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The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction; it can only change forms.

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What is the difference between a chemical change and a physical change?

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A chemical change results in the formation of new substances, while a physical change does not alter the chemical composition of a substance.

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What is an example of a chemical reaction?

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An example of a chemical reaction is the reaction between vinegar and baking soda, which produces carbon dioxide gas.

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What is the significance of balancing equations in chemistry?

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Balancing equations is important because it reflects the conservation of mass and allows chemists to predict the amounts of reactants and products involved.

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What does the arrow in a chemical equation represent?

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The arrow in a chemical equation represents the direction of the reaction, indicating that reactants are transformed into products.