Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced chemical equation?

Back

A chemical equation is balanced when the product or products has the same elements and amount of each element as the reactants had before the reaction occurred.

Front

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

How many atoms are in 5Na₃PO₄?

Back

40

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 it mean if a chemical equation is unbalanced?

Back

A chemical equation is unbalanced when the product or products don't have the same elements or amount of each element as the reactants had before the reaction occurred.

Front

In the equation PCl₅ + ___ H₂O → ___ HCl + H₃PO₄, how many H₂O molecules are needed to balance it?

Back

4

Front

In the equation H₂ + O₂ → H₂O, why is it not balanced?

Back

Each side of the equation has a different number of oxygen atoms.

Front

What is the total number of hydrogen atoms in the balanced equation 2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O?

Back

4 hydrogen atoms.

Front

What is the purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

To ensure that the same number of each type of atom is present on both sides of the equation.

Front

What is the coefficient in a chemical equation?

Back

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.