Balancing equations

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical equation?

Back

A subscript is a number written below and to the right of a chemical symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Front

What is a reactant in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

What is a product in a chemical equation?

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

What does it mean for a chemical equation to be balanced?

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.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

How do you identify coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients are the numbers placed in front of the chemical formulas that indicate how many molecules or moles of a substance are involved in the reaction.

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.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

What is the balanced equation for the reaction of lithium and chlorine?

Back

2Li + Cl2 -> 2LiCl.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

What is the difference between a reactant and a product?

Back

Reactants are the starting materials in a chemical reaction, while products are the substances formed as a result of the reaction.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-2

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

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

Back

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

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-5

Front

What is the significance of the number in front of a chemical formula?

Back

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