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 is the law of conservation of mass?

Back

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

Front

How do you balance a chemical equation?

Back

To balance a chemical equation, adjust the coefficients in front of the reactants and products to ensure that the number of atoms for each element is equal on both sides.

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 reactant?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes a chemical change in a reaction, found on the left side of a chemical equation.

Front

What is a product?

Back

A product is a substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction, found on the right side of a chemical equation.

Front

Balance the equation: H2 + Cl2 → ? HCl

Back

2 HCl

Front

Balance the equation: P4 + O2 → ? P2O3

Back

3 O2 → 2 P2O3

Front

Balance the equation: Zn + HCl → ? ZnCl2 + ? H2

Back

1 Zn + 2 HCl → 1 ZnCl2 + 1 H2

Front

Balance the equation: N2 + H2 → ? NH3

Back

1 N2 + 3 H2 → 2 NH3