Balancing Equations

Front

What is a balanced equation?

Back

A balanced equation has the same number of each type of atom on both sides of the equation, indicating that mass is conserved during a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the purpose of coefficients in a chemical equation?

Back

Coefficients are used to balance chemical equations by indicating the number of molecules or moles of each reactant and product.

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 first step in balancing a chemical equation?

Back

Identify the number of atoms of each element in the reactants and products.

Front

What does the law of conservation of mass state?

Back

The law of conservation of mass states that mass cannot be created or destroyed in a chemical reaction.

Front

Balance the equation: H₂ + O₂ → H₂O

Back

2H₂ + O₂ → 2H₂O

Front

What are the coefficients for the reaction: __C₃H₈ + __O₂ → __CO₂ + __H₂O?

Back

1, 5, 3, 4 (C₃H₈ + 5O₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O)

Front

What is the balanced equation for the combustion of propane (C₃H₈)?

Back

C₃H₈ + 5O₂ → 3CO₂ + 4H₂O

Front

What is the significance of the coefficients 2, 4, 1 in the equation: 2Ag₂O → 4Ag + O₂?

Back

These coefficients indicate that 2 molecules of silver oxide decompose to produce 4 atoms of silver and 1 molecule of oxygen.

Front

How do you balance the equation: __Fe + __O₂ → __Fe₂O₃?

Back

4Fe + 3O₂ → 2Fe₂O₃.