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 does the arrow (→) in a chemical equation represent?

Back

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

Front

What is a 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.

Front

What is a subscript in a chemical formula?

Back

A subscript is a small number written after an element symbol that indicates the number of atoms of that element in a molecule.

Front

How do you determine if a chemical equation is balanced?

Back

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

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

What is the significance of balancing chemical equations?

Back

Balancing chemical equations ensures that the same amount of each element is present before and after the reaction, reflecting the conservation of mass.

Front

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

Back

A chemical equation is a symbolic representation of a chemical reaction, while a chemical reaction is the actual process of reactants transforming into products.