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 purpose of balancing chemical equations?

Back

The purpose is to ensure that the law of conservation of mass is obeyed, meaning that matter is neither created nor destroyed in a chemical reaction.

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 product in a chemical reaction?

Back

The product is the substance that is formed as a result of a chemical reaction.

Front

What is the reactant in a chemical reaction?

Back

A reactant is a substance that undergoes change during a chemical reaction.

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 the significance of the law of conservation of mass in chemical reactions?

Back

It states that the total mass of reactants must equal the total mass of products in a chemical reaction.

Front

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

Back

C3H8 + 5O2 -> 3CO2 + 4H2O.