Balancing Chemical Equations

Front

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.

Front

What are reactants in a chemical equation?

Back

Reactants are the substances that undergo a chemical change in a reaction, 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 is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the law of conservation of mass is followed, meaning that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

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What is a coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

A coefficient is a large 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 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 if a chemical equation is balanced?

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

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What does the arrow in a chemical equation represent?

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

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What is the significance of the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions?

Back

It states that the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products in a chemical reaction.

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What is the difference between a chemical equation and a chemical reaction?

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A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, while a chemical reaction is the actual process of transformation of substances.